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A I'AKSKE WOMAN. 



Stray Bits from the Orient 



EXPERIENCES OF AN AMERICAN IN HINDOSTAN. 
WHAT SHE SAW, HEARD AND LEARNED. 



By C. M. M. n^. ^ s ^N^V^ 







The Proceeds of this Work are to be Devoted to the 
Education and Elevation of Hindoo Women. 



"The mission of woman — permitted to bruise 
The head of the serpent and sweetly infuse 
Thro' the sorrow and sin of earth's registered curse 
The blessing which mitigates all." , 

— Owen Meredith. 



BUFFALO 

The Courier Compa 

1892. 



NY, Printers. ^ *- I J / V^ 



Copyright, 1892, 
By B. E. baker, 

Lima, N. Y. 



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PREFACE 



We have no excuse for the appearance of this little 
book, but we send it out as a swift-winged messenger, 
bearing on its pages a cry for light from our Hindoo 
sisters over the sea, whose 

Lives are hid in idolatry's night, 

That destroys the soul with its awful blight. 

We have seen with the eye, we have heard with the 
ear; therefore we speak through the pen of the awful 
desolation of these darkened lives— of the work that is 
now being done in their behalf, of the great need which 
exists of more help, more consecrated lives. Now the 
cry comes to us, laden with the sorrows of thousands, 
the suffering of years: "Come over into Macedonia and 
help us." You, who are Christians and lovers of humanity, 
can you allow this cry to go unanswered, unheeded ? 

Through this book, to reach many minds heretofore 
in comparative ignorance of India's sufferings, to touch 
many tender hearts, sure then of assistance for India, 
is the earnest wish of 

The Writer. 



STRAY BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 



Early in the spring of 1883, during one of my 
trips in the sunny Southland, I chanced to be one of 
a select party, formed for the purpose of crossing 
St. Augustine Bay, and spending the afternoon and 
evening (for we were to return by moonlight) on the 
beautiful beach of Anastasia Island. Never, while 
memory lasts, shall I forget that day and all it brought 
to me. Any one of my readers who may have visited 
the spot, knows it to be one of the most charming 
places in all the Southland. 

After wandering up and down — in and out — explor- 
ing here a wondrous shell and there some delicately- 
veined sea-moss until I was thoroughly tired out, I 
threw myself on the sand, fully intending to rest. 
The rest of the party had wandered far away, so I 
knew that I should not be disturbed by them for 
some time, as they could -not, at the pace they were 
strolling, reach me in less than an hour. The sun was 
already sinking beyond the crimson outlines of the 
western sky. I would rest — but ah ! the witchery of 
those white-crested breakers, as they chased each other 



6 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

over the harbor-bar ! They seemed things of life, and 
in them was a witchery I could not resist. This was 
my last day there, for on the following morning I 
must turn my face northward, and give up for a season 
the deliciousness of boating and driving and pleasure- 
seeking, for I had seemed for some years to be just 
drifting. Now there was to be a change. I was to 
enter into the duties of home, and take upon myself 
the responsibilties and cares of life. 

Thus I mused : '' Ah ! we little, know what work the 
Master Builder has for us to do. While we have our 
thoughts and plans on home and all its endearments, 
He may be preparing some errand for us which will 
call us far away — not only from home and dear ones 
there, but from our native land with all its sweet 
reminiscences." 

The waves now seemed to sing a soft lullaby. I had 
forgotten to watch their ever-changing hues. But hark ! 

There comes a wail of anguish across this waste of sea, 

And what is the story it telleth as the sounds are borne to me ? 

I see a group of women under the banyan shade — 
Their brows are shadowed by sorrow, their hands are out- 
stretched for aid. 

Listen ! The cry resolved itself into words, and this 
was what I heard : 

" We are lost in the dark of idolatr>''s night — 
Come, oh, come, and bring us a light." 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 7 

For the first time in my life, I was brought face to 
face with that which should be the great object and 
aim of every Christian — lighting the way to Jesus. 
As that great host of India's daughters came up be- 
fore me that evening by the sounding sea, I asked 
myself the question, in all earnestness and agony of 
soul, '' Have I a light sufficient to guide these souls?" 
Then I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit whispering 
to my soul : " Yes, you have the true light, sufficient for 
the lighting of every darkened heart in heathendom." 

And while I hesitated, wondering what to say to 
them, there seemed to come, floating down to me 
through the ages, the voice of our Divine Master, 
saying, " Take this message to them from me : * For 
God so loved the world that He gave His only begot- 
ten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not 
perish, but have everlasting life.' " 

Again, I stand by the sounding sea, and 'tis sunset, 
but far from my native land. I must turn my ear to 
the westward, instead of east, to catch the music of 
the dancing waves. At my side is a long row of car- 
riages and from them alight men, women and children, 
all elegantly dressed. See, with bowed heads and 
clasped hands, they descend to the water's edge and 
repeat their prayers to the setting sun. 

"And who are these people so strangely dressed," 
you ask, '' in long silk robes and cone-like hats ; and 



8 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

those ladies in their graceful, flowing Oriental sacques 
and fine silk pantalets ; and where are we anyway, 
and what is that large, elegant building, which 
looks as though it might be all ablaze within with 
those beautiful colored lights ? And, far over yonder, 
what means that tall, dark tower? And, oh, see! 
Whatever are those men doing yonder by the water, 
with their heads done up in white cloths? They seem 
to be beating the rock with a wet garment. And what 
is that large, beautiful box, covered with elegant cur- 
tains, and carried by those four men, while the group of 
chattering, laughing women follow, with their heads 
covered by their bright, dainty shawls ? As they near 
us they cover their faces, so only one eye peeps out. 
Tell us, please, what all this means, and where we are, 
and how we came here." 

Well, wait ; not quite so fast, — at least, don't deluge 
us with with so many questions at once, else our mind 
will be burdened and memory fail to recall them all. 
Then, there may be some very interesting things 
which will be left out of our description ; blit we trust, 
if you are patient, that we shall be able to answer all 
your questions. 

First, let us answer the question as to where we are : 
In the City of Bombay, opposite '' Borabunder," on 
the sea-shore. You notice there is no cool, pebbly 
beach for our feet to rest on, but all along the shore is 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 9 

a flat, shelving rock, so slippery and difficult to stand 
on, when once down to the water's edge. 

Bombay is considered one of the wealthiest sea-port 
cities in all the East, and it is certainly one of the most 
beautiful, so varied is its scenery. As we stand here, 
at our feet and stretching far away to the west, lies the 
blue water of the bay, while off to the right tower the 
ghats, or hills, as we Americans would say. At their 
base, and for some distance along their sides, we find 
the tall palm-trees, with their beautiful crowns of wavy 
fronds, while, nestling away among the rich flowers 
and shrubbery of the Orient city, are the pretty white 
bungalows of the rich Parsee and European merchants. 
To the left, and back of us, lies the city proper, with 
all the hustle and bustle of an Eastern sea-port. 

Let us take a street-car and ride down to the fruit 
and flower market. See how the people line the road 
and congregate in little groups here and there, — men, 
women, children, dogs, camels and horses, all huddled 
together. Of course, these are all low caste people. 
Ah ! we are too late, the market has closed. But wait. 
There goes a man with a dish or basket of fruit on his 
head. We will call him. " Daco wo adma kitne pici 
hie, do orange (see here, man, how much money for 
two oranges)?" He tells us that the fruit belongs to 
another person, and that he is delivering it. We judge 
him to be more honest than most of them, else he 



lo STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

would have sold us the oranges, and told the owner a 
lie, so, so as to keep the money in his own pocket. 

Look at that wild, noisy throng coming up the 
street. They must number a hundred or more, nearly 
all bearing torches. You notice that horseman in the 
center, riding a gaily, but richly-caparisoned horse ? It 
is a marriage party, and the horseman is the bride- 
groom. They are going to the home of the bride for 
a feast at midnight. The musicians are playing a Hin- 
doo wedding march, but we fail to catch any harmony. 
To us it is simply a horrid noise, — nothing soothing to 
the nerves, but rather irritating. To them it is just 
what it ought to be. You see, far in the distance, there 
is another party, not as large, perhaps, as this, all with 
their torches and Hindoo lamps, as the case may be, 
coming out to meet the groom's party, and escort 
them into the outer court or grounds of the bride's 
house. 

How that scene opens to our spiritual understand- 
ing the words of our Saviour, and the picture He would 
present to us when He said, " And there came a cry at 
midnight, ' Behold, the bridegroom cometh ! Go ye 
out to meet Him.' " We had the honor of being an 
invited guest at a marriage similar to this one, and the 
words of our Lord, as recorded in Luke's gospel, came 
to us that morning with more nieaning than ever be- 
fore. This being the last day of the feast, there were 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. ii 

many guests. We were ushered in through the iron 
gate to the large reception hall. There, grouped about, 
were the musicians and the friends of the families of 
the bride and the groom, all dressed in their holiday 
attire, — the men and boys in their loose white trousers 
and long flowing robes or tunics, and the women and 
girls behind the scenes in their pretty *' Sarrie " and 
jewelry. 

We took a seat with these that we might hear what 
was said, and study the people. Soon we saw that 
there was a stir in the audience. People were moving 
aside to give place for some one. Just then our atten- 
tion was directed to the entrance of a middle-aged 
man wearing full beard, snowy- white turban, and loose 
white trousers ; but, instead of the white tunic or coat, 
he wore a soft dove-colored robe. Our interpreter 
whispered that this gentleman was the ruler of the 
feast, — in other words, the host. He seemed to be 
looking about for some one. A servant stepped for- 
ward and held a short conference with him, pointing to 
the room where we sat with the women. Soon he 
came and asked if we would be pleased to step outside, 
as the host wished to speak with us, but could not enter 
the women's apartment. 

We went with him, and, as our host stood talking 
with us, we felt that the eyes of that entire company 
were upon us. Some, perhaps, were wondering why 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

we had been called out, as we ourselves were, but we 
were not left long in the dark, for scarcely was his 
greeting over, before he said : ** I just learned of your 
arrival, and have come to invite you up where my 
daughter^ the bride, is with other members of my fam- 
ily." We turned to our interpreter, who stood behind, 
and beckoned her forward. She wore the native cos- 
tume. He said, *' Excuse me, but this young woman 
can't go up. She is of another caste." We said, 
*' She does not recognize caste now, — she is a Chris- 
tian." "■ Ah,'' said he, " that makes a difference, cer- 
tainly. She may go." 

Our mind turned to the words, " They shall come up 
from the north, and from the south, from the east, and 
from the west, and shall sit down with me in my 
Father's kingdom." The one word, '' Christian," was 
the mystic talisman that had given our young native 
friend the honor of sitting in the presence of the bride 
and her family, and so, in that great day, when we shall 
stand before the assembled world, that one word, if we 
have been true to its meaning, will give us a place with 
the Bride, the Lamb's wife. 

We followed the stately ruler up to a higher seat, 
glad in the thought that so many of India's sons and 
daughters were present to witness the triumph of Chris- 
tianity over the prejudice of caste rules. We found 
the bride, a fair young girl of twelve summers, sitting 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 13 

on a beautiful mat in the middle of a large room, sur- 
rounded by a group of laughing, chattering young 
girls, literally loaded with jewelry. The pretty little 
bride was covered by a fine veil made of India silk. 
As we entered she shyly drew the silken folds closer 
over her fair face; but even this precaution did not 
hide from our view the stray dimples, and the great 
hquid brown eyes, which the excitement of the hour 
rendered more beautiful. 

The father was not allowed to come in, but when his 
presence was made known at the door, the dear girls 
all turned their backs that way, and drew their '' chud- 
dars" more closely. He simply stood at the open door 
for a moment, while the servant came to take charge 
of us. When he had retired to an adjoining room, 
where the honorable gentlemen guests were assembled, 
it was really amusing to see the girls all let their ''chud- 
dars" fall from off their heads in graceful folds about 
their shoulders. Their ear and head jewels were so 
heavy that they would catch into their hair, and then 
into the loose silken folds of their " chuddars," and it 
was really a great relief to them when they could go 
with the head bare. 

We were given a seat at the right hand of the bride, 
by order of our host. In a little room, off to the right, 
the elderly women of the household were preparing 
the fruit, flowers and sweets for the feast, for these are 



14 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

all that are served at a native dinner. When we had 
been in the room ten or fifteen minutes, the musicians 
began playing in the room below. As a rule, native 
music is simply a noise, but on this occasion it was 
soft and rich. Soon we heard the rustling of garments, 
like the flutter of angels' wings, from a room in front 
of us, and a rich perfume floated in on the breath of 
the air ; then a tinkling of tiny bells, and as the bride 
touched a bell at her side, four of the most airy, beau- 
tiful creatures we ever saw, came gliding in, and began 
a series of circles and figures known only to the highest 
professional dancers. 

We had heard much about dance-girls, and had seen 
many of them, but these were beautiful, both in face 
and dress. They did not have that careless, wicked 
look which many of them carry. 

After they had left the room, a juggler was brought 
in, accompanied by two cobras. After they were sud- 
denly found, two or three times, winding about his 
neck, when they had last been seen in one corner of 
the room, we begged that they be sent away, as we 
felt timid in their presence. After this another man 
came in, and performed with knives. Then the feast was 
served to us on a novel dish, viz., a large plantain leaf. 
While we partook of this, the singers were chanting in 
a rich, sweet strain below. We were so glad when the 
play broke up for the day and we were allowed to leave, 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 15 

although we were glad of the opportunity to learn 
about these things. 

Before we went out, the bride ordered her perfume 
casket, and sprinkled our hands and clothing with the 
delicate odor. 

The festivities lasted something like a month, and 
every night, at midnight, there was a feast. The last 
night was the crowning occasion, when the groom came 
at midnight, and the young men, — friends of the 
bride's family, — went out to meet him as soon as his 
coming was announced by a watcher on the house-top. 
Marriages are very expensive affairs in the East. 
There are many instances where a man has been made 
bankrupt by borrowing money just for a marriage occa- 
sion. We are now speaking of the high-caste wed- 
dings. A man can go to a low-caste home and bargain 
and buy a girl, just as we, in America, would bargain 
for and buy a horse, or a dog. She is his property, to 
do with as he pleases. A Hindoo woman is considered 
less than a dog, — he may give five cents for her, or 
twenty-five, or as many dollars. God grant the time 
may speedily come, when human beings cannot be 
bought and sold for dollars and cents. 

There are three great nations represented in India 
under the common name, ''Natives": the Persians (or 
Parsees), the Arabian (or followers of Mahomet), and 
the Hindoo. We come to you, dear fellow-worker, 



i6 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

through the pages of this little book, with the wants 
of a million of this people on our heart. We feel our 
own inability to plead their cause, but, looking far back 
through the ages, we see a bleeding Victim hanging 
on a cross of wood, and we seem to hear the words, as 
the cruel soldiers mock and deride Him, '* Father, for- 
give them; they know not what they do," Oh, won- 
drous love! He died for you! He died for me! He 
died for India's millions ! For His love is infinite, and 
it is because of this love that this little book is written. 
He is pleading in .your hearts, I know, for these, our 
sisters, who sit in heathen darkness and superstitious 
night, with heads bowed under the galling yoke of caste. 
God pities them, and His pleading voice is saying to 
us, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to 
every creature." That means India and her daugh- 
ters. The wail of these dear ones enters all our hours, 
and when we close the doors of our private room at 
night, we think of them in their prison homes, never 
allowed to go out, except under purdah (or covering). 
Oh, what a desolate life is theirs! No loving, sympa- 
thizing Jesus to whom they can go and unburden their 
hearts in time of grief or joy. Perhaps some may 
think these heathen incapable of such emotions. Such 
is not the case. They are gentle, refined, loving, and 
easily touched by the sufferings of another. 

We will now try to answer your first question as to 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 17 

the strangely-dressed people we saw going from their 
carriages on the beach down to the water's edge, to say 
their prayers to the setting sun. They are Parsees, so 
named because they were driven from Persia by perse- 
cution, and settled in western India. They are a noble 
people physically, but, taken altogether, they are proud, 
wicked, and cruel at heart. But there are exceptions. 
We remember very well the tender courtesy shown us, 
on two occasions, by these people, — the first a gentle- 
man, the second a lady. We had been summoned to 
look after a sick friend, at a station many miles from 
where we were stopping. Part of the journey could 
be made by train, and part must be traversed by bul- 
lock cart. 

We received the message at four in the afternoon, 
and the train left our station at 4.45. During that 
forty-five minutes, we must needs go into the bazaar, 
and buy bread and jam and potted beef and crackers, — 
for the message said, " Bring food." For one-fourth 
tea-cup potted beef we paid eighty-five cents. For a 
cup of jam we paid forty-five cents, and the same for a 
pound of crackers; and ten cents a loaf for bread, 
v/hich we could get in America for four. So, you see, it 
costs something to live in some parts of India, if you 
use English food. 

After procuring these we hastened to the station, 
which we reached just in time to catch the down train. 



i8 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

We took with us one of our orphan boys, — a lad of 
fourteen years, — as interpreter on the route. The cool 
breath of evening came in at the window of our car, 
and very refreshing we found it, after the heat and toil 
of a busy day. As part of the journey lay through a 
jungle, or slightly wooded hill, we saw troops of nimble 
monkeys chattering and scampering in and out among 
the branches, and birds of gorgeous plumage flitting 
here and there, and parrots screeching and chattering 
to their mates, as they heard the approach of our 
train. 

Later, as the sun sank to rest in the billowy outlines 
of the western horizon, and the curtains of night were 
silently drawn over the land, — for in the East we do 
not have the long twilights which are so enjoyable in 
America, — we saw, far to our right, what are sometimes 
called the Burning Ghats, which, at this time, were 
more like a trail, or winding path of fire up the 
wooded side of the mountain. The effect is pro- 
duced by trees in which Hindoo lamps are hung, for 
under the trees, at a certain distance apart, Hindoo gods 
are placed. A famous Hindoo temple is builded far up 
the mountain, and the trees are lighted, not only for 
the pleasure of the gods under them, but also for the 
convenience and safety of the devotees who would 
make their way by night to the sacred shrine. 

We watched these with many conflicting emotions. 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 19 

till they were lost in the distance, and then gave our- 
selves up to the deliciousness of rest for the remainder 
of the journey. We had scarcely abandoned ourselves 
to the thought, before there came a gentle tap at the 
door of our car compartment. We bade them " Come 
in." The door opened, — a Hindoo woman held out to 
us a babe, saying he was very ill, and that she wished 
us to do something for him. We saw, at a glance, that 
the child must die, and told the poor mother we could 
do nothing for him. Her sad face haunts us still. We 
drew up at the station just as our watch indicated the 
hour of 10.30. 

Would that it were possible for us to describe to you 
the scene that greeted our eyes as we alighted from 
the train. From the station, as far as the eye could 
reach, were little fires which threw a lurid glare out into 
the darkness, and, darting hither and thither between 
the fires and ourselves, were men, and boys from the 
age of ten years and upward. Some were in "■ dote " 
and jacket, forming a very fantastic costume when 
viewed in the half-light of a camp-fire. Some were in 
the coolie dress, which leaves the legs exposed to the 
thighs, with a blanket thrown over one shoulder. They 
were keeping up a continual jargon, each meaning to 
be heard above his neighbor. 

Our train was behind time, and, as a consequence, 
all the gharies (or wagons) had gone for the night. 



20 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

As dinner was served at our place at five o'clock, we 
were obliged to leave without any, and, not having had 
anything to eat since ten in the morning, at which 
time we breakfasted, we, on leaving the cars, began 
hunting .around for food. We soon saw a man with 
some native barley cakes and steaming hot tea. We 
sent our boy with a few pice (or pieces of money), and 
he brought back some cakes and bananas, and a cup 
of tea. 

We wished to divide with him, but he refused, and, 
boy-like, laughingly drew from among the folds of his 
clothing a cloth in which was tied a small portion of 
curry and rice, which, after asking permission, he ate 
while sitting *' Turk "-fashion, on the stone floor, a few 
paces from us. The common people never care to sit 
on a chair or stool when they eat. 

We had but finished our lunch when the boy came 
rushing in (he had gone outside after eating), with the 
words, " Miss Sahib, a Rajah (native king) is coming." 
On leaving the car, we had spoken to the station-master 
as to how the remainder of the journey was to be 
completed, as we felt every moment was precious. At 
the call of the boy, we went out to see, hear and learn. 

Drawn up on the opposite side of the station were 
three fine carriages, drawn by handsome grays, while 
on either side of the carriage were two horsemen. In 
front and rear were twenty-four natives mounted on 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 21 

iron grays. We noticed a Parsee gentleman, with two 
other persons, in the center carriage. Soon the station- 
master came, and explained that the native prince of 
the province, whose palace was in the city beyond the 
mission station which we wished to reach, was just 
returning from an absence of some weeks, and the 
Parsee gentleman above mentioned owned the carriage 
and was acting as escort to him. He had spoken to 
the gentleman, and through him a seat was given us in 
the carriage, and the boy allowed to ride outside with 
the footman, an honor which would not have been 
allowed the boy, had it not been for the fact that he 
was a Christian. Through the kind courtesy of the 
Parsee, we were at our friend's bedside in good time, 
and he also made arrangements to have us taken back 
to the cars, as our train left at one o'clock that morn- 
ing. Later, we will tell our readers of this ride, and 
what came of it. 

The Parsees are very cleanly in their habits, always 
putting on clean clothing every morning. Their food 
is not as simple as that of the Hindoos. They use a 
great deal of wine and other intoxicants. Not much 
is known by outsiders of their religion, but it is said 
by some that they worship fire and water. This they 
deny, but acknowledge that they worship the Unknown 
God through the fire, which is an emblem of Him. 
They have what are called " fire temples," composed 



22 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

mostly of glass, within which are many colored lights. 
These are kept burning day and night. It was the 
Parsee temple, lighted v/ithin, which you saw and about 
which you asked. 

Their funeral services are different from those of all 
other people. They have a great many high towers, 
called ''the towers of silence." First, the body is 
taken to the lowest room in the house, where a priest 
prays for the spirit which has left the body. Then a 
dog is brought in to look at the dead, after which the 
body wrapped in a white cloth containing many yards, 
laid on an iron bier, and carried to one of these towers. 
The friends follow on foot, as no carriages are allowed 
at a Parsee funeral. The mourners are all dressed in 
white, and go in pairs, holding a white handkerchief 
between them, while they chant a wailing death-song. 
It is an awful, as well as a solemn sight, which, when 
once seen, follows the beholder ever afterward. We 
think of the soul gone out, but gone,— where? Only 
He who beholds all things can answer this question. 
The body is taken to the top of the tower and left for 
vultures to devour. The skeleton is left four weeks, 
and then shoved into a well in the midst of the 
tower. On the fourth day the spirit is called away to 
judgment. 

On reaching our station after that terrible night's 
ride, we found ourselves thoroughly tired out. Toward 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 23 

evening two of our boys were taken very ill, with every 
symptom of that dread disease, cholera. We treated 
them as we would persons with the disease. The ser- 
vants and others in the mission were frightened, and 
we knew by the pallor on their dusky faces, as well as 
the look of horror and awe, that it would be folly to 
expect anything from them. We had the little suffer- 
ers brought up to our room, and there, alone, wrestled 
with, that dread disease all night: yet we knew God 
and the angels were with us. 

Toward morning they fell into a restful sleep, and we 
knew victory was ours. We had gone beyond our 
strength, and on the third day after the boys were 
taken, — a day ever to be remembered, — oh, how the 
terrible heat overcame us, as we went on our rounds of 
duty; first into the hospital, then into the ''bazaar" 
(or market), then home to give out the food to be 
cooked for the day, as this must all be weighed in the 
presence of the cook, to be sure he does not rob us. 
Then the food for the orphans, after which clean linen 
for family use must be given out. Then came the 
rounds to see if the work had been properly done 
(that is, the sweeping, dusting and dish-washing), and 
if the younger ones in the Orphanage had had their 
baths and proper food. Later in the day came the 
sewing-class, and after this the Bible study with the 



24 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

dear girls. Before it was all finished, it seemed we 
should be overcome with pain and weariness. 

We retired to our room without dinner, which was 
served between five and six. We felt that the same 
disease which had seized our boys had touched us 
with its hated breath. Our co-worker, a Eurasian lady, 
came, with our interpreter, into the room. We felt, at 
that time, to say, " Truly, love is stronger than fear." 
They were both Christians, and, we knew, could be 
trusted in any emergency. We took a hand of each, 
and asked if they believed in the power of prayer. 
They said, "" Yes." We then requested that they pray 
God to stop the progress of the disease and raise us up. 
There were no physicians, except natives, within two 
hundred miles of us at that time. About midnight 
there seemed to be spiders crawling all over the per- 
son, and the face and hands were covered with a cold 
moisture. 

As our friend at the bedside laid her hand on the icy 
forehead, she rose and silently passed into the adjoin- 
ing room. As only a curtain separated it from ours, 
we could hear the light footfall as she paced the room, 
and we guessed with what agony of soul she prayed 
for us. Soon we felt the warm life-blood pulsate 
through our being. The distressing symptoms disap- 
peared, leaving us weak and ill. Then it was that a 
Parsee woman ministered to us, sending different kinds 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 25 

of nourishing food, which was so expensive that our 
purse would not allow us to purchase it. But the 
same God who supplied Elijah, prepared this heathen 
woman's heart to go out toward us and supply that 
which we could not. As soon as fruit was allowed, 
she would send us the choicest she could procure in 
the market. 

This brings a little incident to our mind, which will 
illustrate God's care in things which we feel would 
hardly demand His attention. We were out one morn- 
ing, visiting the homes. The air seemed hot and 
stifling. We had gone out without breakfast, and, as 
we turned our steps homeward through the market, 
and saw the delicious fruits, we pondered how they 
would refresh us, — we were so tired and thirsty. We 
took out our purse to see if there was a bit of money, 
a stray coin hidden in it anywhere; but it was useless, 
Ave could find none, and, shutting our purse, started on ' 
through the heat and dust, — for there are no sidewalks 
in the native cities, — we must walk in the road. We 
had not gone far before we saw a shining something at 
our feet. Stooping, we found it to be a piece of silver 
money, just the price of the fruit we had so longed for, 
and, as we stopped to pick it up, the blessed Holy 
Spirit whispered to us, " Go back and get the fruit and 
be refreshed," which we did, with adoring love filling 
all our being. 



26 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

The son of this Parsee woman was a student in our 
English school. We were frequently at her home, and 
always, on leaving, would receive some token of her 
hospitality, which, when one is far from home, in a for- 
eign land, with no human friend to look after one's 
welfare, is very refreshing, especially from heathen,, 
whom we expect to antagonize us at every step. 

On one occasion we were called at a very early hour. 
A " Malie " (gardener) had a sad accident occur in his 
home. His wife, a nice little Hindoo woman, while 
attempting to rescue her neighbor's child from their 
burning home, had herself been terribly burned, so the 
messenger said who had brought the word to us. They 
took her at once to the hospital, where we found her 
in the women's ward, moaning with pain. One glance 
revealed to us the fact that her life must go out. Her 
eyes were sightless, her hair burned off, and the flames 
had been drawn in with the breath. She was perfectly 
conscious, and seemed glad that we had come. All we 
could do was to point her to the Christian's God. This 
we did as best we knew how. We sung that beautiful 
prayer, "Just as I Am," in Hindustani words. She 
listened as though she caught the sound of heaven, 
and, as she raised her clasped hands above her head, 
she could not speak, but her lips moved, and we caught 
the words she would have uttered, — '' Sing them 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 27 

again," — which we did, and then offered a few words 
of prayer and testimony, through our interpreter. 

We left her, feeling that God would care for the 
seed sown in much weakness, in this dark heathen 
mind. As we left this scene of suffering, we met the 
Parsee woman. There were tears in her dark eyes as 
we told her all, and she answered, " If there is anything 
I can do to make the sufferer more comfortable, do not 
hesitate to let me know." All this from a heathen 
Parsee. Do you wonder that we love them and long 
to lead them out into the true light? 

In the evening we found the poor woman still alive, 
but much weakened. As we took the hand, which 
seemed already cold in death, a light broke over the 
poor wounded face, and again the lips said, " Sing of 
the Christian's God." We sung that wonderful prayer, 
'' Jesus, Lover of my Soul," and '' Just as I Am." As 
we sang, the attendants from all parts of the building 
came and crouched near the door, that they might hear 
the story of redeeming love. There was on their faces 
a look of awe, blended with fear. They knew they 
were in the presence of death, and we tried, as best we 
could, to make them realize that they were also in the 
presence of the one true God, and that He knew all 
their thoughts and all their doings, and was able to 
help them live right lives. Again we took her in the 
arms of our love and prayer, to the One who died for 



28 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

the redemption of her soul. After a few words of 
testimony, we left her and went our way. In the morn- 
ing, not being able to go outside, because of pressure 
of work in the Mission, we sent our interpreter, with 
one of the orphan girls. On reaching the hospital, 
they were told that she had passed away during the 
night, and went trusting in the Christian's God. 

All this was told the Parsee lady. She smiled and 
said, " Yes, yes, I am glad." But none of these things 
moved her from her gods, and from her religion. The 
Parsees are the most bigoted people in the world. We 
have striven to give our readers a peep into the beau- 
tiful side of their hearts' chamber. Now, come with 
us, and we will lift the veil and let you see the dark, 
hideous side of a Christless religion. 

One evening a young man made his way into a Chris- 
tian service. He was dressed in the silken garments of 
a Parsee nobleman. Night after night, this person, 
tall and graceful, with the tender courtesy of a prince, 
was found in the place of prayer, an earnest, receptive 
listener. By and by we found him to be the only son 
of a very wealthy Parsee banker. One evening, after 
a powerful sermon, he came to the minister and asked 
for a private interview, which was granted. After this 
his friends would come into the meetings, and induce 
him to go out. 

Things went on thus for about two weeks, when he 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

was suddenly missed. It was found, on inquiry, that 
his father had him locked up to keep him away from 
the Christians. After a time he let him out, thinking, 
without doubt, he would give it all up. He knew 
nothing of the power which had entered into that 
young man's heart and life. The first night after his 
release, he found his way into the prayer-room. He 
looked haggard and worn with his close confine- 
ment. 

After the sermon, when an opportunity was given 
for any who wished to become followers of Christ to 
make it known, this young man rose up, and with firm, 
kingly step, made his way to the front, and said he had 
determined to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, and de- 
sired, at that time, to receive Christian baptism. He 
was about to say more, when his father walked up and 
bade the young man follow him, which he did, beckon- 
ing some of the Christian men to follow. 

They went outside the church and held a consulta- 
tion meeting. To save the young man from being 
trampled under the feet of the mob gathered there, 
one of the ministers took him to his own home. There 
his father and mother waited upon him. His father 
told him that if he took the vows of the Christian he 
would become an outcast from his family. This boy 
had only to speak the word and wealth without meas- 
ure was poured at his feet, while all the honors of an 



30 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIEN T. 

Eastern prince were his. Should he give them all up, 
— his fond father, his idolized mother? 

These were all put into one side of the balance. In 
the other, was Christ and persecution, — how bitter 
the persecution none this side the seas can conceive. 
These were all spread out before him ! Will he falter? 
Will he count the price too precious for the purchase? 
Ah, no ! He is not wanting ! He rises from his seat, 
and, with bowed head, approaches his parents,, takes off 
his jewels, silently lays them at his father's feet; takes 
off the heavy gold chain from his neck, and places it 
in his mother's hand, with the words, " Jesus Christ 
died for me. I belong to Him and must serve Him," 
and, turning, left their audience. 

That evening he was baptized, surrounded by a little 
company of praying ones. The service was no more 
than over before a noisy rabble was heard coming. 
Fearing the young man might suffer violence at their 
hands, he was quietly led out another way. After put- 
ting a small purse of money and a little Bible in his 
hand, with a fervent '* God bless you," the young man 
fled from the face of his father and others who were 
dear to him, but who were now his bitterest enemies. 
Then there went out from that father's lips an edict to 
" Shoot the Christian dog at sight." 

The dear boy wandered from one place to another, 
mostly on foot, as he feared to enter a public carriage. 



^77?^ Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT, 31 

or even be seen on the streets in daylight. He would 
go by night secretly to the missionaries and get food 
and such help as he needed. After four months of wan- 
dering, his father sent him a letter by one of the min- 
isters, giving him the opportunity to renounce Christ, 
and come back to his idols and the protection of his 
father's home. 

This came at a time when he was faint with hunger, 
and overcome with the heat and weariness of wander- 
ing; his feet were torn and bleeding, and some of his 
garments hanging in tatters. He takes the letter in 
his trembling grasp, and goes over it again and again. 
Watch the fine-cut features, as wave after wave of pain 
passes over them! Will the yearning after mother- 
tenderness and home-rest outweigh Christ in the wan- 
derer's soul to-night? Nay, verily! Let us peep over 
his shoulder, as he takes up the pen to answer that 
father's appeal. We find him writing such words as 
these : 

Dear Father — Your words are received, but I cannot grant 
your request. You can take from me my natural life if you will, but 
I cannot give up Jesus Christ. He fills all my life with His sweet- 
ness and power. 

Not many days after, * his dear body was found 
pierced with bullet-holes. It was known that his 
father paid a wretch a price to kill his boy, should he 
refuse to obey his wishes. There were many such inci- 



32 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

dents related to us, by those in whose word we had 
perfect confidence, to illustrate the awfulness of idol- 
worship and a Christless religion. 

How little we can know of the turbulent feeling 
which possesses the soul of one who is groping in the 
shadows of idolatry's night. They can see the finger- 
marks of a great power all around them, and, like us, 
they watch the ever-changing beauties of the incoming 
morning and evening, and there are times when, as 
they gaze on all these things, they ask the question, 
''Whose mind brought forth all of these beauties?" 
But, unlike the Christian, they turn away from the 
question in a bewildered maze. 

We stood one morning among the ruins of a Hin- 
doo palace, on the banks of the " Nerebudah." We 
had a fine, commanding view as far as the eye could 
see. On either side of the river were trees and vines, 
variegated with beautiful flowers, while far away to the 
horizon rim lay, in all its beauty, a billowy bank of 
snowy cloud. As we stood drinking in all this sweet- 
ness, we were striving to sow the seed of eternal truth 
in the heart of our Hindoo guide. At length we 
pointed out to him the scene by which we were sur- 
rounded, and asked the question, '* Who made all 
these? Who marked out a course for the sun? Who 
upholds him as he goes traveling in his great strength ?'' 
He turned away for a moment with a perplexed look 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 33 

on his manly face, and then turned to us again, saying, 
" I cannot tell. I would like to know." Then and 
there our little party of four Christians held a prayer- 
meeting. We sung, " The Light of the World is 
Jesus," and, as the sweet words rose and fell on the 
breath of the morning, we felt that more than one 
dark mind was turned to seek the truth contained in 
the words sung. 

This scene took us back to the time when we first 
began to search after truth, or, in other words, to find 
out God, to get acquainted with Him, for the words 
had come to us from Him, '' Give Me thine heart." 
We asked, '' Who is God ; where is he to be found ? " 
To be sure we had heard learned men talk about Him, 
and preach sermons from His book, but that was all we 
knew about God, and all we had tried to learn of Him. 
But at this time there was a power at work within the 
soul that demanded our attention, and, as we looked 
out on the glories of the scene with which we were 
surrounded, we said, '' Surely the mind that conceived, 
and the power that brought forth these beauties, is far 
above the finite." 

Looking off to the distant woods, whose autumn 
foliage was tinted with all the colors of the rainbow, 
then up into the ethereal blue, flecked here and there 
with a snowy cloud, which, as we looked upon, the de- 
sire filled us to take and use for an ornament ; but 



34 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

swiftly following this thought, came the words, " This 
is God's ornament for the beautiful blue sky. It is 
only vapor, — you could not hold it in your arms." 

Then, casting our eyes to the ground, we saw a little 
flower,— some would exclaim, " only a weed," but we 
were searching after God, so we knelt to examine the 
waxen petals, supported by the more hardy sepals, while 
still more closely protected by the petals were the won- 
drous stamens and pistils, as delicate as a bit of fine 
sewing-silk, yet standing erect in their place and sup- 
porting that tiny tuft of pollen, ready, at the command 
of God, to scatter it broadcast on the breath of even- 
ing. As we gazed on this wonderful flower, so delicate, 
and yet so perfect in all its parts, we thought : '' Surely, 
this did not grow by chance, neither could the mechan- 
ism of man produce it. From whence, then, did it 
proceed?" 

The answer of that little flower to our soul was, 
"God's hand formed me, and planted me for His pleas- 
ure, as well as yours," and, as we turned our face from 
the study of that little flower, and beheld the work of 
His fingers all about us, from the tiniest blade of grass 
at our feet, up to the giant oak, that towered in all its 
strength and beauty, we said : " Truly, the most 
talented human mind could not cause any one of these 
to grow, neither could the most skillful of trained fin- 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 35 

gers bring them forth. From whence came they, 
then?" 

As we questioned all these seemed to answer in a 
voice of thunder to the soul, " God, the creator of 
heaven and earth, brought us forth for the use of man." 
Then such questions as these were put to the soul : 
'' Can it be possible that we have accepted and used all 
these wonderful things, and have not given one thought 
to the fact that there must be a giver of all these, and 
we must be under some obligations to Him?" Then 
and there we gave our whole being to God, and He 
revealed Himself to our heart by His Holy Spirit as 
He had revealed Himself to our understanding through 
the study of the book of nature all about us. This, 
and much more, came back to us as we stood beside 
our Hindoo guide on that beautiful spring morning. 

Our guide was not the only Hindoo present, as we 
were out that morning on one of our many tours 
which we took through the native cities for the purpose 
of learning the customs and need, not only of the 
high-caste people, but of the middle and lower classes, — 
to see them in their homes, learn their thoughts and 
study their dispositions, that we might the better know 
how to approach them and lead them out into the 
great light of salvation and eternal life. 

We had spent some time down in the heart of that 
great heathen city, — had gone from shop to shop where 



36 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

they were manufacturing different materials, for this 
was a manufacturing city of note, and its fame had 
spread all over India, because of the fine texture of 
some of its goods. As we went in and out of the many 
narrow and circuitous lanes and streets of that ancient 
and renowned city, we showed to the workmen that 
we were interested in their work and in them, which 
gave us access to their hearts, and we would drop here 
and there a seed of gospel truth as we went on our 
way. Many times the guide was obliged to clear the 
way for us, as there were tiny beasts they called mules, 
with packs of grain on their backs, and the streets were 
so narrow that, when it happened that two came abreast, 
there was not room for us to pass them. So our read- 
ers can judge something of the unpleasantness of walk- 
ing through an oriental city on a warm morning. 

At one place we found them manufacturing the gold 
thread from which the world-renowned " cloth of gold " 
is woven. Entering one of the narrow streets we saw 
at our left a high building, more like a prison than any- 
thing else. Over the entrance were Hindoo characters 
in gold. One of our party remarked that they were 
weaving inside, and we signified a desire to go in. Our 
Hindoo guide went up the stairs and asked permission, 
which was granted. 

We entered a large room, dimly lighted from loop- 
holes in the wall on one side. Nearly in the center 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT, 37 

of the room were three looms in operation, and two 
men were needed to work each. They were very sim- 
ple affairs, worked by an upright shaft. The filling was 
wound on a flat stick, which one man poked through 
the warp with his hand, while the other man worked 
the shaft. 

The threads were very fine and delicate, and conse- 
quently the workers must have the light enter the room 
in such a way as to strike directly on the work, so they 
could see at a glance should a thread get broken while 
filling in the woof. Passing down the stairs we were 
conducted into a large covered court, where they were 
preparing the gold thread for the looms up-stairs. 
There were ten men at work. They would take a 
small bar of gold, and, laying it on a steel anvil, would 
beat it with a steel hammer. The anvils were so 
arranged as to allow the thread to run from one anvil 
to another, so they would all be at work on one thread. 
It passed from the tenth person finished, and near him 
a young man sat, whose business it was to wind it up 
as it came from the anvil. In the back part of the 
room were twenty or thirty young men taking lessons 
in this interesting, as well as difficult, art. After we 
had watched the workers a little time, and showed our 
interest in them, we asked if we might sing. They 
seemed pleased with the prospect of hearing us. After 
singing ''Just as I Am " in Hindustani words, we left, 



38 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

with a few words of testimony for Jesus. A large 
crowd had gathered outside the inclosure, and many- 
followed, at a little distance, all the way to the palace 
on the hill, overlooking the beautiful river referred to. 

Before reaching the palace proper, we came to the 
king's pavilion, or smoking and bath-rooms. This was 
a circular building of marble. Within the walls are set 
with pearls and precious stones. The floors are laid 
in wonderful patterns of cut stones. The dome is 
composed of glass, blended in many shades of color, 
which sheds a soft beautiful light on everything below. 
We went outside and climbed the circular stair-case, 
which leads to the top of the building — were allowed 
to pluck a flower or two, and some leaves, from a min- 
iature garden we found up there. The place is kept by 
an armed native guard, so that this building and its 
surroundings may not be injured by enemies. It is a 
valuable as well as a beautiful work of art, and ought 
to be preserved. 

The people following us were not allowed to enter 
the inclosure, but remained outside, eager to catch 
every word that was uttered by the *' white teacher," 
as they called us in their own beautiful language. As 
we looked down on that great throng of people who 
had followed us, our hearts were touched for them, 
and we said : '' Truly, they are as sheep having no 
shepherd." 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 39 

As we stood there on the pinnacle of that heathen 
palace, we read the story of the Prodigal Son, and our 
interpreter made it very plain to them. Afterward we 
sung ''What a Friend we have in Jesus," and then 
descended the stairs and made our way to the palace 
proper. If it were possible for these crumbling walls 
to speak, what terrible deeds of bloodshed they might 
disclose. 

Crumbling walls, oh, speak to us, 
As we thy hidings closely scan. 

Mayhap in thee we read the story 
Of man's cruel wrongs to man. 

It is built, perhaps, two hundred feet above the 
river, having a front toward the river of one hundred 
and fifty feet. The whole length of this is a stone 
terrace, or flight of steps, down to the water's edge. 
Within are numerous underground apartments, and 
leading from these we found two ways of egress and 
ingress, apart from the one inside the building. One 
was by going down and out into the river. The other 
led us up and out into the grounds at the rear of the 
palace. We took the latter v/ay of exit, and, following 
our guide, soon found ourselves descending the terrace 
in front of the buildings.* On reaching the water we 
saw a number of fine row-boats, and many groups of 
men and boys lounging around. As the river looked 
so inviting, and the further bank so beautiful, we signi- 



40 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

fied a desire to cross, but our guide, among all these 
idlers, sought in vain for a boatman. They told him 
that Mohammedans owned the boats ; that they were 
off at " Pugah " (or prayers), and would not return for 
two hours. 

Being weary, we sat down to rest, and while there 
we learned from one of the loungers, who could speak 
English and called himself a teacher (indeed, we found 
him a very well-informed person), a strange story con- 
nected with the old place and some of its occupants. 

He said that at one time it was held by a very 
wealthy as well as powerful Marretta prince, and once, 
when he returned from one of his many coasting voy- 
ages, he brought back, as a prisoner, a young, very 
beautiful and accomplished English lady. At first he 
kept her in one of the underground rooms referred to, 
but after a time, when he felt that his fair captive was 
safe to go about the palace as she chose, he did not take 
the precaution, when he left home, to hide her under- 
ground, but she was not allowed to go outside the 
building. 

She feined to be very fond of the prince. In the 
meantime she learned of a woman who hated the 
prince because he had her son put to death, and one day 
when her captor was absent she sent a slave after this 
woman. She came, and what passed between them no 
one ever knew, but in a few weeks the English lady 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 41 

wanted a new waiting-maid, and this woman was rec- 
ommended and engaged, of course by previous arrange- 
ment. She was of a caste that gave her opportunity 
to go anywhere she chose. 

Being a woman of remarkable intelligence, tall and 
spare, but very strong, she was just the one wanted. 
Her husband was a wicked profligate. One morning 
in the month of October the prince left home for a 
three months' cruise. When he had been gone about 
two weeks the English lady, with her waiting-woman, 
withdrew to her underground apartments, telling the 
servants that they must not disturb her, as she wanted 
to be in religious retirement, and that when she 
wanted anything she would send her woman. 

The prince had been very lavish toward his English 
wife with regard to money and jewelry, so that she had 
plenty to serve her purpose. The waiting-woman don- 
ned the male attire, and the English lady assumed the 
Hindoo woman's manner and dress, and together they 
made their way out from their prison. The English 
woman had ordered her carpenter to make a light, 
portable ladder, but he knew nothing of it or of its 
use. She made him think that it was to lie upon, but 
she must needs have this to scale the wall inclosing the 
palace, for the two-leaved gate was fastened at sun- 
down, and none could enter or depart through that 
until sunrise in the morning. The ladder was made in 



42 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

such a way that she could readily take it apart, so that 
no one could trace them by that. They traveled all 
night, relying on the great Fatherhood of God to pro- 
tect them from wild beasts. Toward morning they 
found a rather secluded place, and lay down to rest. 

After a time they saw a boy. The would-be man 
hailed him, and, after a little conversation, learned 
where he could get a bullock-cart and a bullock. The 
cart was covered with bamboo, which served to shield 
the fugitives from the heat as well as from all prying 
eyes. Thus they traveled for one week ; then, selling 
the cart and bullock, made their way to Bombay as 
best they might. On teaching there they learned that 
an English trading-vessel was about to haul up anchor. 
The would-be man met the captain and handed him a 
letter. After reading this the captain tore a bit of 
paper from his note-book, and wrote upon it the words, 
"To-night, at nine o'clock." 

This was handed the English lady, and, at the time 
named, there was — not a Hindoo man and woman 
alighting from a carriage to take the little boat which 
was to bear them to the ship, but rather an English 
lady and her maid, who was closely veiled, so that no 
peering eyes could discover whether she was a Hindoo 
or a European. They were taken into the ship, which, 
soon after, weighed anchor and sailed away. The sea 
proved too much for the Hindoo woman, who died and 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 43 

was buried in the waters. After reaching England, the 
lady wrote a tiny book, giving the details of her escape. 
Thus the lounger said. 

We have given but a brief outline of the story. 
Need we tell our readers it was with strange, conflict- 
ing emotions that we slowly climbed the steps back to 
the palace,— were not satisfied to stand within its crum- 
bling walls,— but must needs climb the stairs and stand 
on its roof, which was flat and even? It was while 
standing here that the little meeting was held, to which 
previous reference has been made. Slowly we de- 
scended, and made our way to the opening of that 
underground passage, and, as we viewed, from our 
standing-place, the ruins of that palace which was 
once the prison of one of our kinswomen, the words 
came over the soul with a strange sweetness :/' Ven- 
geance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord," and the 
answer of our heart was, ''Grand, noble woman, your 
wrongs have been avenged." 

We made our way through the grounds, taking the 
direction which it was most likely the flying fugitives 
took, meanwhile thanking God for the protection of a 
Christian government. By this time the sun was be- 
ginning to give out such scorching rays, that we were 
glad to hasten down through the city, taking the short- 
est road to the place where we were finding shelter at 
that time. After a bath we repaired to breakfast, 



44 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

which was waiting, and consisted of native barley 
cakes (griddle cakes), which were rolled out and made 
very hard, goat steak and a little boiled rice, with 
very strong tea. We made our breakfast of the cakes 
and rice. 

When we had thus refreshed ourselves, we thought 
to get a little sleep, as we had a hard night's work 
ahead of us. We had scarcely thrown ourselves down 
on the rough mat which served as a bed, when a low 
voice from outside the bath-room door said, '' Miss 
Sahib." Not recognizing the voice, we made answer, 
'* Wuh kohn hie" (who is there) ? Then he spoke a 
little louder, and we learned that it was our guide of 
that morning, come to hear more about Jesus. We 
bade him go around to the veranda, and we would 
send a friend to teach him. He turned away from the 
door, and his sad face haunts us still, for, instead of 
going around to the front of the house, as we bade 
him, he went away. We presume he was afraid some 
of his friends would see him there and make trouble. 
We did not get the sleep that we felt we needed, 
because we had failed to do our duty toward this young 
man. 

About sundown, a runner from the telegraph brought 
us word that, instead of going directly home, we were 
to meet a party half-way, and proceed with them to a 
distant village, to find, if possible, the state of the 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 45 

people and their needs. We knew they were needing 
Christ, but whether the way of His coming had been 
prepared, we knew not ; so, engaging a '' tonga walla " 
(two-wheeled cart and driver), we started out to meet 
our friends. The roads were not very even or smooth ; 
consequently, when you thought you were sitting 
securely on one side of the cart, you would as suddenly 
find yourself at the other, frantically clutching the air^ 
with the delusive fancy that you were near one of the 
four upright stakes which are driven in at the corners 
of the flat bamboo bottom of the cart. 

There is no raised seat ; one must sit flat down, and 
the bottom is not very smooth, either, as it is composed 
of the bamboo canes split, with the rounding sides 
placed upward. There is a space between each of 
these of nearly an inch. Not very comfortable sitting, 
especially over rough roads, with,, perhaps, an unruly 
bullock in front, going at his best speed, and the 
driver, sitting astride the front gear of the cart, vainly 
pulling the bullock by the tail, and uttering, now and 
then, what seemed to us a fierce grunt of dissatisfaction. 
Thus we traveled that evening for well-nigh ten miles, 
and then hauled up at the '' dak bungalow " (travelers' 
rest house), where our friends were awaiting us, and 
where we decided to rest a few hours. 

This ride brought to our minds our first camel-ride^ 
which happened in this wise : During the heated term^ 



46 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

as a rule, the Europeans flee to the hills, but our little 
band determined to remain on the plains. Some i^\N 
miles from us was a fine lake, which lay like an emer- 
ald on beauty's breast. One one side of this lay the 
government garden, or park, and far across the lake to 
the west' the pass between the mountains, which on the 
north and south raise their towering peaks toward the 
sky, while their granite base is ever and anon lashed by 
the fury of the waves, or, in calm, kissed by the spark- 
ling, dancing waters. 

Thither, one evening after a day of trial and hard 
work, we turned our faces. A wealthy Eurasian 
kindly furnished camels, as it was to be a camel-ride. 
The air was perfect at the hour (midnight). Our work 
had kept us till nearly eleven, and then our tea was to 
be attended to. Thus the lateness of the hour. But 
the full moon touched all nature with her bewitching 
tracery of light and shadow. The cool night breeze 
wooed us out after the intense heat of the day 
passed, that she might fan our feverish brows with her 
delicious breath. 

The cam.els were fleet of foot, and the drivers were 
docile, obedient Hindoos. The mounting of the cam- 
els would be, to the American, a novel scene. There, 
in the soft moonlight, the three beasts were told to 
kneel down. Each had an easy seat prepared for two 
persons. We were assisted to ours, amid a great deal 



STRA V BITS FROM TI/E ORIENT. 47 

of grumbling on the part of the camels, as they object 
very strongly to having any burden put upon them. 

When we were all cosily seated a gentleman took 
his place in front, the huge beasts repeating the growls 
and snarls which greeted us when mounting. When 
the party were all mounted the word was given the 
camels to rise, and we were told to hold fast to our 
seat, a caution which it would be well for every one to 
heed the first time he mounts a camel. There was a 
shaking under us, and then we were thrown backward, 
frantically clutching our seat to keep from being 
thrown off. While thus engaged the beast raised on 
his hind feet, which caused us to grasp as frantically 
from behind to keep from being thrown on our faces. 
Then the drivers, with long ropes attached to the 
beasts' heads, started, giving them at the same time a 
sharp stroke with a switch and telling them to go quickly. 
While we were expecting the beasts to go, we were not 
prepared for such a shaking and tossing as we got. 
This being our first camel-ride we threw our hands 
aloft, searching (in vain, of course,) for something to 
stay our unsteady gait. While the others were riding 
at ease, we were making ourselves the sport of both 
riders and drivers, but on Our return we righted up and 
rode as easily and gracefully as it was possible for any 
one to ride a camel. Indeed, we rather enjoyed the 



48 STRAY BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

race, which was entered into by the drivers to test 
whose was the faster steed. 

You can imagine something of the unsteadiness of a 
seat on a camel's back, when we tell you that our 
watch, which we carry in a close pocket, was twice 
thrown from its hiding-place during that eventful ride. 

Would it were possible to describe to our readers the 
beauties of that oriental park when viewed by moonlight . 
It was simply beyond compare, — with now a. bewitch- 
ing nymph perched high in air, holding above her 
head a crystal chalice, from which bubbles forth a fount- 
ain of sparkling, cooling waters, falling in countless 
diamond drops into the bowl at her feet. There, a lit- 
tle to her right, is a dark grotto, overhung by the deli- 
cate vines and beautiful flowers of the India creepers. 
While just over yonder, in all its colossal strength and. 
beauty, stands the marble figure of Lord Napier. The 
wind, playing among the trees of mango and olive, 
caused their branches to nod and bend near and nearer 
to the grand old statesman, until they seem to be 
whispering to him the tale of India's wrongs. 

But to go back to our friends and the "■ dak bunga- 
low." The servant whose business it was to look after 
the buildings and see that the wants of the travelers 
were met, came forward with a courteous *' salam," and 
then stepped one side to await our orders. As we 
had not brought a servant with us, we requested him 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 49 

to bring a good woman to look after our wants, as we 
felt very tired after our ten-mile ride in the two-wheeled 
" gharie." He withdrew quickly, and returned in a 
few minutes with a tall, dignified Mohammedan woman, 
then withdrawing as silently as he came. 

We pointed to our bed, which was a pillow, a quilt 
and a flannel blanket, strapped up. This she undid, 
shaking each thing separately, to be sure that there 
were no centipedes or scorpions hidden among them. 
Then she spread them on an iron bed-rack which stood* 
in the room, and bade us go to rest, which we did, 
after wrapping our heavy Russian cloak about us, for 
the nights are damp and cool among the hills. We 
told the woman to have our " rota aur muckin aur 
cha " (bread and butter and tea) ready at four o'clock 
in the morning, as we must resume our journey at that 
hour, bidding her good-night as she silently left the 
room. 

De^ite our aching bones and bruised flesh (result 
of our ride), we were soon fast asleep. We did not feel 
timid, as a screen only a few feet high separated our 
room from the one our friends occupied. We heard 
nothing, — knew nothing further, until a low voice out- 
side our door called '' Mi'ss Sahib." We bade the 
woman come in. She entered, bringing a " butte " 
(small lamp) in her hand, which she placed on the 
table, and, returning to the door, received from a man 



50 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT, 

outside, the cup of tea and bread and butter, which 
she brought, saying she would hold them and let us 
eat while we remained resting, as the journey was long 
and we had had but little time for sleep. 

We thanked her for her kind thoughtfulness, at the 
same time accepting it, which gave us a few minutes 
longer to rest, but we were soon up and robed for our 
journey. 

Stepping out on the veranda we could see from the 
dim light given out from a larap fastened on the wall, 
that the air was full of fog, and the half-clad drivers of 
the bullock-carts had taken the precaution to provide 
themselves with flannel blankets (much resembling the 
American government blankets, but about half as 
large), which they fasten over the shoulders, letting 
them hang loose about the person. 

The carts were covered over with bamboo, which pro- 
tected us from the dampness, but the cool night wind 
blew threw, as there was no protection at the front or 
back, and made one feel very chilly. After riding a 
little time, a gentleman from the other cart came and 
hung a blanket over the opening in front, which made 
it much more comfortable for us. His wife remarked 
after he had left, that '' we had both better lie down 
and get some sleep before daylight," for at that time of 
the year the day dawns slowly. 

We unstrapped both beds, using one to lie on, and 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 51 

the other for covering. We found ourselves m rather 
close quarters, but, being under so much covering, we 
were warm, and, despite the fact that we were bumped 
around some, we went to sleep, and had a long, cozy 
nap. When we awakened and peered cautiously out 
at the rear of the " bandy," we could distinguish the 
gray outline of land and ''jungle (woods). We then 
took a position where we could have a view of what 
was going on around us. 

Any of our readers who may have traveled all night 
and watched the coming in of the morning, knows how 
interesting it is to see all nature waking up from the 
rest and sleep of the night. Now and then we would 
catch a glimpse of a he'rdsman dividing his goats and 
cows and buffaloes, as they must drive the cows to the 
doors of the Europeans, where a servant must watch 
while the milking is done, for fear the dairyman 
will sell them water and milk, instead of pure milk, 
and sometimes, though you may think you are watch- 
ing every move, yet they will have water concealed 
some way in their sleeves, and will get it into the milk, 
even while you are near. 

Far down there, by that tiny stream, is a person 
almost hidden from view by the gray fog of the morn- 
ing, washing out his "chuddar" (a piece of cloth 
three or four yards long). The poor villagers and 
herders will get a " suit of clothes," that is, a few yards 



52 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

of unbleached cloth, cut it in two pieces, using one as 
a loin-cloth and the other for a ''chuddar," which they 
throw over their shoulders. This is their '' suit," which 
they wear until worn out, never taking it off except to 
wash it, as we see this one doing. Many times, in our 
work among the herdsmen on the outskirts of the city^ 
in the early morning and in the evening, we have seen 
ten or twelve at some pool of water near the roadside, 
washing their clothes. Standing far out in the water, 
they beat it with the garment, and perhaps many poor 
families would be obliged to drink water from this same 
pool. 

We do not wonder at the terrible ravag^es of disease 
among the Hindoos, when we think of their food and 
drink. We have seen them draw water for a whole 
village, from a tank, the water in which was covered 
with a dark green foam, which sent up such a stench 
that one could hardly endure to stand near it when 
the sun is shining. They filter it through a little sand,, 
which takes the unpleasant odor off, and they think all 
the impurities are gone. They are so filthy in many 
ways. 

One evening we had occasion to go into the cook- 
room to prepare some toast, as the cook did not under- 
stand doing it. We would advise our readers, should 
their lot ever be cast in India, and they want to retain 
a good appetite, to stay out of the cook-room. While 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 53 

holding the bread over the fire, our attention was ar- 
rested by seeing the cook take up one corner of his 
**cupra," or coat, which had been white, but which had 
now become the color of dirty sand-stone, and hold it 
to strain the hot water into the tea for our supper. 
We did not care for tea that night, nor for many 
nights to come. 

One morning we went down to thicken some milk, 
and there sat the cook on the ground, with the knife 
between his toes, cutting the meat for curry, and such 
dirty feet we never saw before. We gave the man a 
lesson on cleanliness, which he will remember as long 
as he remembers anything. That was our last trip to 
the cook-room. After this, when we wanted a fire for 
any special purpose, we used a small furnace with char- 
coal. 

As the morning lengthened, we saw, here and there 
along the route, little bamboo tents, and, just outside, 
women would have a little hole scooped out in the 
earth and a fire kindled in it, where they would be pre- 
paring the morning meal for the family, who would be 
standing found, or, perhaps, sitting on a mat, smoking 
and talking over some events of the previous day, 
while they were hunting or fishing, as the case might 
be. There are large numbers of these very poor peo- 
ple near these villages, who get their living by selling 
wild game to the Europeans. 



54 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

We found this village near a long range of beautiful 
wooded hills. The first rays of the morning sun were 
touching all nature with a rich, bright halo, and turn- 
ing the dew-drcps into countless diamonds, as we came 
to a halt on its outskirts. We also found that the dear 
Lord had sent a husbandman into the field before us, 
and the seed sown had taken root, and was already 
bearing fruit in the lives of some of these people, to 
the glory of God the Father. 

Before we had time to alight from the cart, a carriage 
drove up and the footman handed us a letter, which, 
on opening, we found was an invitation from a wealthy 
Eurasian gentleman, who lived a little distance up the 
wooded hill, to make his house our home while stop- 
ping in the place. This gracious offer we most thank- 
fully accepted. We found his grounds laid out in a 
very tasty manner, and the house furnished in the true 
Oriental style. 

Our dinner was served on the lawn, in the shadow 
of the beautiful mango trees, at six in the evening. 
Parrots, and other gay-plumaged birds, were flitting 
hither and thither among the branches, while off to 
our right, on the side of the hill, the wily monkeys 
were coming in single file down to the pepal trees, to 
get the fruit for their evening meal, and near us were 
the white-robed Hindoo servants, gliding noiselessly in 
and out, while they served to us the meal. Back of 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 55 

US stood the ** punka walla," swinging a fan some three 
feet square, hoisted on a ten-foot pole. The swing was 
as regular as if performed by machinery. 

Our host and hostess were professing Christians, but 
had allowed the cares of this life to choke out the 
Word. We remained over one day only, held three 
services, beside doing some personal work among the 
women. Even among these poor people, we found 
caste rules very strict. We called a meeting for the 
boys, and some, coming rather early, went to playing 
very roughly. One little fellow received a severe cut 
on the forehead, and, of course, cried, as any American 
boy would have done. We went outside at the call of 
distress, and saw the boy's face and clothes all smeared 
with blood. We called for water, which was brought 
from the Eurasian bungalow. We wetted our *'rhe- 
omol," or handkerchief, and were about to apply it to 
his head, when he rushed back, and, throwing out both 
hands, exclaimed, " Nay, nay. Miss Sahib ! " 

Realizing the position in which we stood to this peo- 
ple, we turned to one who could speak English, and he 
informed us that the boy was a Brahman, and that it 
would break his caste 'to use water from any but a 
Brahman well, or have anyone else apply it to the 
wound. There the poor boy had to wait nearly half 
an hour for one of the boys to go and tell a Brahman 
and have him bring water and cloth, and, under our 



56 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

direction, cleanse and bind up the wound. So much 
for the system of caste. 

The day is one of rare loveliness: the dark, rich 
leaves of the mango cast shimmering shadows as the 
rays of the morning sun kiss their glossy surface, while 
the delicate, thread-like branches of the tamarind trees 
tremble and bend near each other in the cooling zephyrs 
that float through them, as if they were whispering 
of the terrible things enacted beneath their friendly 
shadows, for, see ! Just beneath stands that hateful 
idol. The butterfly flits hither and thither in the bright 
rays of the sun. The sweet songs of birds fill all the 
grove. The swallow twitters above us, as though suf- 
fering and sorrow were things unknown, but amid all 
this brightness, and above all is a shadow, casting its 
blackening pall over the gilded palaces of these Eastern 
monarchs as well as the mud-covered hut of the veriest 
slave who grovels at his feet, and this morning, sur- 
rounded, as we are, by idols and idol-worship, with all 
its hateful consequences, our spirits are depressed, and 
we are lost in revery, which is suddenly broken in upon 
by a wail of anguish from a woman's lips. We look in 
the direction from whence the sound comes. We see, 
— what ? A frail woman vainly trying to lift a bundle 
of wood, to put it on her head, but her strength is not 
sufficient, and because of this her cruel master is beat- 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 57 

ing her. We hear the sounds as blow after blow 
touches her bared and sun-burned back! 

At last she sinks beside the path to die, while the 
man gives her a kick, with the words, " She is only an 
aurant (woman), far less than a dead dog." And yonder, 
in the distance, is seen a gathering of people, with ban- 
ners and mock spears,' all tending toward the temple 
of '' Dourga." Let us follow them and see and learn. 
They halt in a beautiful mango-grove, a half league or 
so from the mission bungalows, on the further outskirts 
of which stands the temple proper, near a large well, 
or, as the Americans say, reservoir of water, where they 
are to hold a religious festival in honor of Dourga. 

A little apart from this is a beautiful garden, inclosed 
by a rude stone wall, in the center of which is a tiny 
house, where the goddess reposes on a couch of roses. 
We try to enter the sacred inclosure, but a priest we 
had not seen before is crouching like a vigilant hound 
near the entrance. As we approach he darts up, and, 
putting himself between us and the gateway, gives us 
to understand we cannot enter, so we pause to catch, if 
possible, a glance within the building. We see a fine 
palanquin, made of gold cloth, lined with crimson. 
The curtain, or " purdah," is looped up with golden 
tassels, and there, on its couch of roses, lies the idol; 
kneeling near, on a mat, is her attendant, an old Hin- 
doo, who keeps a fan waving over the idol to keep the 



58 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

flies from disturbing her slumbers. On the other side 
of her sits her priest, going over the sacred beads. 

We ask the warder some questions which he will not 
answer, making excuse that the goddess is asleep, and 
he must' not talk about her when she cannot hear. If 
we would come in the early evening, she would then 
be awake, and he would be allowed to answer any ques- 
tions we might choose to ask. 

The idol was made of marble, overlaid with gold.- 
We could not help thinking of the contrast between 
that man's god and our God, who declares in His 
word that He neither slumbers nor sleeps, is as a wall 
of fire around about us, while this poor Hindoo must 
stand and keep guard over his god while it is supposed 
to be sleeping. He must toil early and late, and go 
hungry and naked, in order that his god may receive 
larger presents at his hands. 

And many times, — yes, we repeat it, many times, — 
he must pour out the life-blood of his child to appease 
her wrath, as we are told that to-day there are many 
children in remote places in India, sacrificed to the 
blood-thirsty '' Kali," and even women suffer the same 
awful fate. We believe that nearly all, if not all, hu- 
man sacrifices are made to the goddess " Kali," who is 
represented as standing on the prostrate form of her 
husband. About her neck is a string of human skulls; 
one of her hands holds a dagger, another a gory human 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 59 

head, still another is stretched out in blessing, while the 
fourth and last is raised in malediction. Her tongue 
hangs out of her mouth as in the act of lapping blood. 
A more horrid-looking object could not well be con- 
ceived. 

They tell how little girl-babies, even at the present 
time, are taken to this shrine and dashed against its 
base. The bleeding victim is then held where the 
warm life-blood will cover the idol, while the deluded 
worshippers will dance about in wild excitement and 
fiendish delight. Many times the mangled form is 
tossed from one to the other, as we would toss a ball, 
until their garments are besmeared with the blood of 
the slain. 

It is evening now, and we will go out and watch the 
progress of the festival. Hindoo lamps are placed in 
the trees, and all along the steps leading down to the 
water's edge. The reservoir is only one-third full, with 
a broad flight of stone steps on two sides leading down 
to the water. The women must stay far back in the 
grove, with the exception of the dance girls who belong 
to the temple, — they can go wherever they choose in 
this wild, noisy crowd. Now and then we catch, for a 
moment, through the temple door, a sight of their 
airy, bejeweled costumes, as they flit from one place to 
another. 

The idol is brought from its place in the little house, 



6o STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

and placed in a niche of the temple, after being carried 
down and receiving a plunge in the water. All this 
time the throng are singing songs to the goddess, of 
her beauty and power. After putting it in the place it 
was to occupy through the evening, they began making 
preparations for the sacrifices, which they told us were 
to be goats. As we did not wish to witness the slaugh- 
tering of the victims, we turned and left the place. All 
night long the sound of their revelry was borne to us 
on the southern breeze, and, as we listened, our mind 
went back over history and time, and, as it did so, we 
were witnessing another preparatory sacrificial scene ! 
The time, night ! The Victim was not the purchase- 
price of gold or silver, which none were too poor to 
bring. 

And those who were chief in the preparatory work 
were as wild and noisy as this heathen band, — wild 
with malicious hate and scorn and envy. We hear 
them gnash their teeth, and spit upon and smite their 
Victim in their frenzied wrath ! And what or who is 
this costly sacrifice which is so soon to be offered? It 
is the Christ-man who came, and, by the giving up of 
His life, the shedding of His most precious blood on 
the cross, thereby paid the redemption-price of every 
human soul ! Once for all, bought us from the power 
of sin and death to the power of an endless life. 

Oh, dear India ! Hear the glad news. You, whose 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 6r 

sons and daughters have so long been crushed under 
the wheels of Juggernaut's car, — throw your graven 
images and idols to the moles and the bats, and wor- 
ship the True and Living God. Kiss the Son, lest He 
be angry with you, and ye perish off the face of the 
earth ! 

All hail, Thou crucified Redeemer ! 

In this dark land we bid Thee stay. 
Till every soul shall bid Thee welcome 

And every heart for Thee make way. 

The light of the morning revealed to us many of 
these deluded worshipers, straggling by the mission 
bungalow, their garments smeared with blood and their 
faces with paint,'and they themselves looking as though 
they had been under the influence of intoxicants for a 
week. Would it were possible to give our readers a 
correct pen-picture of the worshiper of Kali. She is 
called " the bloody goddess," and the most terrible 
scenes are enacted in obedience to her. Of all the 
images worshipped in the East, we did not see any 
other that caused us so much abhorrence as this one. 

A person cannot go outside his home without seeing 
the images. On the roadside, in the street, in the ba- 
zaars, in the homes, and wherever one's feet may tread, 
we find these odious objects. In the groves, they are 
carved on a large stone, and the stone is set up against 
a tree and smeared with paint. The trees are hung 



62 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

with lamps, which are kept in order by the attendant 
priest, and lighted at six o'clock every evening. 

The greater number of these outside idols represent 
'■^ Ganesa," the god of ** prudence and policy." He has 
an elephant's head and a human body. The elephant's 
head is an emblem of sagacity. His name signifies 
** Isa," governor, and '' Gana," a company of deities. 
All sacrifices and religious ceremonies, and serious 
compositions in writing, and, indeed, all worldly affairs 
of importance, are begun by pious Hindoos with an 
invocation of *' Ganesa"; otherwise, they would be 
failures. He has generally four hands, and is the chief 
among the Hindoo gods. It is believed that all success 
and disappointment spring from him. 

Allow us to give you a specimen of the Hindoo wor- 
shiper's address to '' Ganesa," as he approaches and 
prostrates himself before the idol : " Praise to thee, oh, 
Ganesa! Thou art the truth! Thou art the creator, 
preserver and destroyer, the supreme, the eternal spirit. 
Whoever meditates on thee will never be impeded by 
difficulties, — will acquire riches, and have every object 
of his desire." 

The Hindoo would not, on any account, build a house 
without first placing on the ground an image of Ganesa, 
which he sprinkles with oil and adorns every day with 
flowers. The idol is set up in all places, so that per- 
sons of all ranks may invoke him before they under- 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 63 

take any business, and that travelers may worship him 
as they proceed on their journeys. At many of these 
shrines there are two or more persons who profess to 
be able to tell the worshipers the best way to gain 
the favor of the god, and call themselves priests. They 
stand or sit very near the idol, and when offerings 
are laid on the shrine, they watch their opportunity, 
and when the face of the worshiper is bowed to the 
ground, slyly conceal the things in their clothes and 
sell them for money. The worshipers believe that 
Ganesa is pleased with them, and has consumed their 
offering. 

Many times our heart was filled with anguish, as we 
saw those dear Hindoos fall down before the idol, cut- 
ting and beating themselves, crying out in agony of 
soul for help and comfort, and calling on the name of 
the god. Of course help could not come to them 
through a piece of stone, which their own hands had 
fashioned. 

These places are made attractive by the lighted 
lamps in the foliage of the trees, and little fires are 
kindled near when the weather is cool. Many of the 
men and boys spend the early part of the evening 
here, and later go to a gambling den, or some other 
place equally as bad, where they congregate and spend 
the greater part of the night in wild and wanton rev- 
elries, drinking, smoking and stealing. This, of course, 



64 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

is the case only with a certain class of worthless per- 
sons, who have nothing to do during the day but to lie 
around and take their meals, which some woman has 
earned and prepared for them. But while this curse of 
drink is blighting many lives, and turning the sweet- 
ness of home into the bitterness of gall, many grand 
native gentlemen are fighting the monster with all the 
strength of their being. 

We were invited, one evening, to attend a temper- 
ance meeting in the City of Bombay, which was organ- 
ized and carried on by native gentlemen. During the 
speaker's address, he referred to the liquor traffic in 
these words: ''The governments simply regulate the 
traffic to best suit their selfish ends — mainly to increase 
the revenue and fill their coffers with the money of the 
slain. I have two beautiful boys in my home (we all 
knew his was an elegant home), and, should one or 
both of these boys become drunkards, what would that 
home be to me? Simply a place of torment! And 
as I look about me, and see so many of my people 
fall before the intoxicating cup, I feel I would wil- 
lingly give up my life, if, by so doing, these might be 
saved." 

All of this from a heathen! The nature and habits 
of these people are such that, when they are overcome 
by drink, they are just wild. One afternoon, we were 
just finishing our Hindoo lesson, when some one came 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 65 

rushing up the veranda steps. Peering through the 
chick that covered the doorway, we saw a woman with 
wild eyes and flowing garments. We drew aside the 
curtain and signaled her to enter. She had no more 
than gotten out of sight, before two men entered the 
''compound," or yard, and began to search all about. 
When the woman entered we knew something was 
wrong, and opened a door leading into a large ward- 
robe which stood in the room, and bade her enter, at 
the same time pushing our study table against the 
door. We knew she would have plenty of air, for the 
top was open. 

After the men had looked all around the grounds, 
they came up the veranda steps and ''salamed" at our 
door. We saw that one of the men was intoxicated. 
We asked them what was wanted, to which they replied 
that their " aurant " (woman) had run away, and they 
thought she was in our room. We bade them come in 
and see. They came in, and not finding anyone, went 
out with curses on their lips, saying they would watch 
the house. 

We kept the woman three days. Every evening, 
after the night watchmen -had taken their places at all 
the landings, we would bring out a mat and allow her 
to lie on the floor at our feet, and in the morning she 
would go into her place of hiding before anyone was 
up. The fourth evening we robed her in a dress be-> 



66 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

longing to our native interpreter, and drove with her 
to a mission some miles away, from whence we had 
prepared to have her taken to a mission in another sta- 
tion many miles away. The last account of her was 
that she had accepted Christianity, and was doing much 
good in the rescue mission whither we had caused her 
to be taken. 

Some of the women are very treacherous, especially 
the dance girls, or rather the women who are brought 
up as dance girls and for some reason abandoned the 
profession. At one time it was our unpleasant duty to 
act as detective when the culprit was one of this class 
of persons. She was really an intellectual woman, and 
because of this was hired by a gang of thieves to work 
in their interest. 

One afternoon she came to the place where we were 
spending some time, which, by the way, was a large 
mission home, where at that time they were caring 
for well-nigh twenty orphans. They also had the Eu- 
ropean and native churches, and four school rooms, 
besides rooms for the family of the missionary in 
charge, and his workers. The European church was 
on the second floor, and was entered from a wide hall, 
or vestibule, the two separated by a heavy curtain, 
which was kept looped up in the after-part of the day. 
The family also roomed on the second floor. We hap- 
pened to be standing in this hall when the woman 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 67 

entered. She accosted us and then passed into the 
church and knelt in one of the pews, keeping that posi- 
tion for some time. Then she arose and came out to 
where we were standing, and entered into conversation, 
which was carried on for some time. 

She told us that some one, ten years before (a Chris- 
tian woman), had told her about Jesus, and had given 
her a Bible (she could read and write the English lan- 
guage), and that, since that time, she had worked a 
great deal for Christian people. 

We asked what her present occupation was, and she 
made reply that she was out of employment at that 
time ; that the lady with whom she had been engaged 
had just left the place, thus leaving her in her present 
situation. 

She was very airy and graceful in every move, and 
by this we knew that she had been a dance girl, 
although she was now a woman between thirty and 
forty years of age. After a time the lady in charge of 
the Orphanage came in and entered into conversation 
with her. Toward dark she left the house, but every 
day for a week we watched her go into the matron's 
rooms. 

The week was drawing to a close, and supplies must 
be purchased for the coming month. We met the mat- 
ron early in the day, and she informed us that she had 
secured the woman to look after the native children. 



68 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

and do some sewing for them ; that she had quarters 
outside where she could get her meals and spend the 
night, and further, as she was a native, she could do 
better in trading than a foreigner ; that she had made 
arrangernents with her to come that day at noon, and 
the mission carriage would take her to the '* bazaar,'* 
where she was to get the supplies for the month. 

We asked in a careless tone who was to accompany 
the woman. At this time the matron had a friend 
visiting her who knew all about native life, and we sug- 
gested that this lady go with the woman, which she 
refused to do unless we would promise to accompany 
her, which we did, as we knew there was trouble 
ahead. 

After the woman and our friend were in the carriage 
we ran back up the steps and asked the matron how 
much money she had given the woman, to which she 
replied, " Fifty rupees." We then asked if she could 
give us a list of the articles which the woman was to 
bring. She gave us a hurried outline of what was 
wanted, and we hastened back to the carriage, detect- 
ing, as we entered, a restlessness of manner in the 
woman, as though she scarcely knew just how to pro- 
ceed. Before entering the carriage, we gave directions to 
the driver that he was to take us directly to the large 
** bazaar.'' When we reached there the carriage was 
stopped and we all alighted. The woman passed into 



^77?^ V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 69 

the market a few steps in advance of us, and we whis- 
pered to our friend : " Keep an eye on the woman, she 
is up to mischief." 

Our friend was then all attention to hear and see 
everything that passed between the woman and those 
with whom she had to do. We did not understand the 
language well enough to follow a conversation. The 
woman talked a long time, and only purchased a little 
sugar, for which she paid one rupee. Then she stepped 
outside and held a low conversation with the driver, 
while we watched every move. She came and told us 
that she wanted to go over to the other side of the 
city to a small market, where she could get rice and 
barley at greatly reduced rates. 

We knew that the business of purchasing the grain 
had been put into her hands, and that we had no right 
to interfere. She had talked so long at this market 
that the afternoon was waning. We saw the cupidity 
of this move. It was nearing the time for the after- 
noon express and passenger to Delhi, and she thought 
to get the money into the hands of one of the thieves 
and get off on this train. 

We all entered the carriage and started to drive 
across the city, when, about half way, the woman put 
her hand out of the carriage and signaled the driver 
to stop, telling him and us that she wanted a drink of 
water. Before we could hardly think she had left the 



70 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

carriage and was out of sight behind some tall build- 
ings. It was but a moment, and we asked the driver 
if he knew where the woman lived. He. said ''Yes," 
and informed us that she was going the short way to 
her lodgings. We bade him drive after her as fast as 
he could. 

We soon turned a corner, which brought her in full 
view. She was running at full pace, her ** chuddar " 
flying behind her. We followed until the street be- 
came too narrow for our carriage, when we bade the 
driver fasten his horse and follow on foot, keeping the 
woman in view, no matter where she went, and we 
would come on as fast as our skirts and the heat would 
allow. 

Our friend, not being as fleet of foot as ourselves, 
brought up the rear, and thus we four ran, into one 
alley, up another and across the third, through people's 
houses, across their back yards, for we must needs keep 
the driver in view, and he kept the woman in sight, 
till at last, breathless and weary, we were brought to a 
halt. 

The woman darted into an open door, it was slammed 
shut behind her just as we came up with the driver. 
He told us these were the woman's quarters, and that 
he dared not go in. We tried to open the door, but it 
would not yield. We heard voices within, and curses 
and threats. We breathed a prayer for protection and 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 71 

demanded that the door be opened at once, or their 
quarters would be rushed by the police. 

The door was flung open and three men, with most 
wicked-looking faces, stood in the center of the room. 
We entered, regardless of fear, although we saw in the 
belt or girdle of each the hated knife which many of 
the Hindoos carry, and we knew by the look on their 
faces that the taking of life was a small thing to them. 
Our driver stood outside the door, and we bade him 
follow us. One of the men stepped forward and said, 
"■ He cannot enter here" ; but our orders had been 
given, and a Hindoo servant feels he must obey a for- 
eigner when in his employ, whatever the results may 
be. As he stepped inside the door the man laid his 
hand on his knife and came forward. We stepped 
between our servant and the man, at the same time 
forbidding him to take another step toward us, and 
telling him that he must bring the woman to us at 
once. 

All this took place in a very short space of time* 
We saw that at heart the man was a coward. He said 
that the woman had gone into the yard to look at some 
rice he had there drying. He spoke to one of the 
other men, who went out and up a pair of stairs, and 
soon returned with the woman, whom we ordered to 
go with us to the carriage. When we were almost 
there she told the driver to take us down by the rail- 



72 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

way station, as there was a little market where she 
could get good rice. 

We knew there was no such market there, and told 
the man to take us to the Mission Bungalow as fast as 
the horse could go. She did not hear our orders, but 
when she saw we were not driving toward the railway 
she became very uneasy and attempted to get the driv- 
er's attention by tapping on the window, and even went 
so far as to say that she would get out and walk to the 
little market if we did not choose to drive there, as she 
must get the provisions which she was told to get. 

Just then one of the men whom we had seen in her 
lodgings went past us toward the station with some- 
thing tied up in a bundle. He gave a peculiar whistle, 
which the woman answered by a lightning-like sign 
with her hand. We guessed that he had clothing and 
food for her, and that she intended to get off on that 
train with the money, despite our precautions. We 
were soon at the Mission Bungalow. We bade the 
woman remain in the carriage, as we had an errand 
inside. 

Hastening up the steps we met the matron, and told 
her there was mischief brewing; that she would better 
have the woman return the money to her, and give it 
to our friend, and we would again go to market. She 
knew we had good reasons, or we would not make this 
request, so, without waiting for an explanation, she 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT 73 

went down to the carriage and asked the woman for 
the money she had given her. 

The woman hesitated about giving it up, and said 
that she had been over to the other side of the city to 
learn more about rice, and was now ready to go and 
get the things wanted. The matron, however, insisted 
on her delivering up the money, and it was handed in 
her presence to our friend. Then we started again for 
the market. 

When we had gone a little way the woman insisted 
on riding outside with the driver. Very soon we saw 
that he was changing his route, and was entering the 
most wicked portion of the city. He could go that 
way to the large market, and we determined not to 
show fear. 

We bade the man, on a severe penalty, not to stop 
the carriage unless ordered by us personally, until we 
reached the market. Then our friend handed the 
money which she held to us, " For," said she, " the wo- 
man knows I have the money, and will direct the thief 
to me.*' We urged the driver to put the horse to his 
best speed, and were soon out of the dangerous portion 
of the city, but not before* the woman had tried several 
times to stop the carriage. 

When we reached the "bazaar" she started away 
from us, telling the driver she would walk home. We 
saw nothing more of her, and the second day after this 



74 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

had happened, toward evening, we took two of our 
native helpers and visited her lodgings. A lad in his 
teens met us at the door, and we asked after the 
woman. He said she was ''ouper" (up-stairs), at the 
same time pointing to some portable steps leading to 
the room above. We saw at the top a hole cut in the 
ceiling, perhaps four feet square. It was so arranged 
that the piece taken out could be fitted down again,, 
and no one would know there was any opening. 

We asked permission to go up, which was given. 
We sent the young women up, and we remained on the 
stairs so that no foul play should overtake any one of 
us. We could see the woman from where we stood 
lying on an old rug, moaning with pain. One of the 
girls asked her what the matter was, and she said her 
son had beat and burned her. She asked why he had 
done such cruel things, to which the woman responded, 
'' None of your business. If I was up I would pitch 
you down from here head first." 

The girls then retreated and came to the head of the 
stairs. We bade one of them take our place as 
watcher, and we would talk with the woman. We 
went near and asked if she was hungry. She said 
*' Yes." Then we asked her if she would like us to 
bathe her burns with oil and put ointment on her 
bruises (we always carried both when out visiting the 
homes). She said *' Yes." Her arms and face had ter- 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 75 

rible burns, and her body was bruised where they had 
beaten and kicked her. We poured on oil and bound 
up the wounds as best we could. Then, giving the 
lad some money, bade him hasten and get some meat 
and prepare broth. 

We staid with her until the broth was drank, trying 
to talk with her in regard to her life, but she would not 
answer only to curse and attempt to sling something, 
as she said, at our heads. So we went below and 
asked the boy where the men were. He said they had 
gone away for a week, and told him to care for things 
until they returned ; that the woman had been without 
food for twenty-four hours ; that he was afraid to go 
near her, as she told him she would kill him if he went 
up-stairs, but the men had beaten and burned her be- 
cause she failed to get away with some plunder she had 
in her possession a few days ago. 

We did not tell him that we were the parties con- 
cerned, but bade him see that the woman did not suf- 
fer food, and left the place. The second day after we 
called again, but, not gaining admittance, began look- 
ing around the place. An old Hindoo, evidently the 
owner of the building, came and informed us that the 
parties had fled. He had just learned that they were 
a part of a gang of thieves, and some of them had 
been having some trouble with a foreigner, and fearing 



-76 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

a raid by the police, had left, sending for the woman 
the night before. 

This was our first experience with a thief, and we 
were grieved and saddened, but, taken as a whole, we 
believe the Hindoo women are honest seekers after 
truth and light, and they feel that from America their 
help must come. 

We were not a little surprised to see how soon these 
bad people had fled from the place. We never spoke 
of the trouble to anyone but the matron, to whom we 
explained everything when we reached home. She 
laughed when we told her of our chase, but we went 
to our room pondering on the great problem of human 
depravity, and on the tender Father-love of God. 

Suddenly our reverie was broken in upon by a peal 
of merry laughter, which made the air vibrate with its 
rich music. We almost fancied a being from some 
other realm had dropped down to cheer our sad hearts. 
Leaving our seat and looking out of the door in the 
direction from whence the sound came, we saw perched 
far out on a branch of a tall '^ tamarind " tree near the 
bungalow, our little "Yacob," the smallest of the 
orphan boys. 

The evening was perfect after the heat of the day, 
and the children were out for a romp, enjoying its 
delicious coolness. His mirth was caused at seeing the 
vain attempt of a larger boy to find him. They were 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 77 

playing blind-man's buff. The matron told us he had 
been the life of the household ever since he became 
an inmate. He was very small for one of his age 
(seven years), but we never saw a child more Christ- 
like in disposition and spirit than he was. His face, 
though very dark, was beautiful, and always lighted 
up with a rare, sweet smile, which made him lovable 
to all. 

While we were at this place, it so happened that the 
lady in charge must needs secure a table servant. The 
man who was recommended proved to be a good work- 
man, but a wicked fellow. One morning, as we were 
going down to the school-room, we noticed the little 
boy talking very earnestly to the servant. Soon after 
this he was taken with chills, and we ordered him to 
be brought to the dining-hall, as we wished to attend 
personally to his breakfast. 

He was brought, and when his breakfast was placed 
before him he bowed his head and was in the act of 
saying grace, when the table servant appeared at the 
door. Seeing and hearing the child, he stopped on the 
threshold and stood with bowed head until the boy 
had finished. Soon after this he came and asked if we 
had a Hindustani Bible, and if so, could he borrow it 
for a time. We gladly furnished the Bible. 

When he had kept it for two weeks he came and 
began asking questions. We saw that the Spirit of 



78 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

God had aroused his conscience. He then told us that 
one morning, soon after he came to us, he got into a 
dispute with the cook about some little thing, and used 
profane language in the presence of little '* Yacob." 
When the cook went away he came up and said : 
*' Bearer, don't you know those were wicked words you 
used ? No one but bad men use those words. I love 
you now, but if you speak such words any more, I 
must stop loving you." 

The servant went on to say: '* Then and there I de- 
termined to know something of this power which is 
able to make a bad man good. I have thrown away 
my idols ; I want to be baptized and live a Chris- 
tian life, that I may be worthy the love of that child." 
We murmered : " And a little child shall lead them." 

This boy, with his older brother, was brought to the 
mission by the police, who said that their father and 
mother had died the week before of cholera. When 
they had been in the mission a few weeks a man came 
claiming to be their uncle, and demanded the boys. 
The younger made vigorous protest, but the mission- 
ary was obliged to give them up, and the man took 
them away. In four days he returned bringing 
*' Yacob'' in his arms, saying that he could do nothing 
with the boy, and they could have him. He subse- 
quently signed papers to that effect. 

As we looked into the face of the beautiful boy 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 79 

that evening our mind took in the grand possibilities 
of his future, and the multitude of his countrymen 
whom he will lead out from the dark night of idolatry 
and death into the glorious light of the Son of Right- 
eousness and everlasting life. And then we think of 
the dear boys in this dark land, who may never hear 
the good news, but who, all their lives, must bow down 
and worship a god which their own hands have made, 
because they do not know any better way, and they 
have no one to teach them of the One True God. 

There are many girls, too, in this land, whose lives 
might be, with different surroundings, rich and helpful. 
Many of them are loyal and strong under trying cir- 
cumstances, as the following will illustrate : 

One evening, during a Hindoo religious festival, when 
the streets were crowded with wild, reckless, painted 
devotees, and the air filled with the '' tom-tom " and 
the hilarious songs of the drunken worshipers, the 
wild haggard face of a child appeared at our door. We 
had been to her home many times, as her mother was 
very ill, and we knew must soon die. We guessed 
on what errand the little one had come before she 
spoke. Her mother was worse, and had sent asking if 
we would come to her at once. 

As we cast a glance over the compound in the direc- 
tion of the city, and our eye caught the lurid blaze of 
hundreds of torches, and our ear the sound of that 



8o STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

horrid din, we knew to go to the woman we must stem 
that tide and pass through those streets. For a mo- 
ment our heart stood still and our courage wavered. 
Then, remembering the words of Him who had called 
us to this heathen land, we turned to the Hindoo girl, 
and looking upon the pleading, upturned face, said : 
'' Tell your mother we will be there soon." 

The soft rays of the orient moonlight touched all 
nature with their silver tracery of light and shadow. 
Just as the girl left our interpreter came into the room. 
She had been a Christian for five years, and was grad- 
uated from one of our English schools. All the hate 
and wrath possible is turned toward a woman if she 
breaks away from caste and becomes a Christian, and 
this evening we feared the girl would not dare meet 
that frenzied crowd. 

As soon as she came in we told her of the call, and 
our purpose to go to the woman, and asked if she 
would go with us. A spasm of pain passed quickly 
over the fine-cut features, and the lips trembled. Only 
for a moment, however, and then the look of pain was 
followed by one of perfect composure, as she answered, 
'' I will go with you. But," added she, ** before leaving 
the house, I feel it my duty to say that we are going 
into danger, and perhaps death. You know the Eng- 
lish government warns all Christians not to expose 
themselves to the wrath of the Hindoos during these 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 8i 

religious festivals. But a soul is of more value than 
our lives." 

At this remark we both bowed our heads for a mo- 
ment's silent committing of our entire being into the 
hands of our loving Father, and then stepped out under 
the bejeweled dome of heaven. As we did so, an old 
Hindoo servant, who was walking back and forth as sen- 
tinel in our '' compound," stepped forward and asked, 
in a courteous manner, where we were going. When 
we told him he begged that we should not go, fearing 
that some hurt would come to us. 

When he saw we were firm he wished to go with us 
through the "bazaar," but we told him we knew our 
God would take care of us. We learned, however, 
many weeks after, that this faithful servant followed far 
behind us until we reached the home of suffering, 
remaining concealed until our return, when he guarded 
our steps home. He said that as he saw us hastening 
through the crowded streets, regardless of the looks of 
hate and suspicion which greeted us on every hand, he 
determined in his own heart to accept the religion that 
was able to make a person fearless in the path of duty. 
He became an earnest, honest seeker after truth. 

Many times during that walk, when we would come 
up to what seemed to be a solid wall of human beings 
in our path, we would feel the slender hand which 
rested on our arm tremble, but the crowd would sud- 



82 STJ^A Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

denly fall back on either side and leave an open space 
broad enough for us to walk through, so we were not 
obliged, even once, to ask permission to pass. We 
seemed to feel the presence of Him who has said : " I 
will go before thee and not forsake thee." 

When we reached the Mission Bungalow the dear 
girl retired alone for an hour's communion with God, as 
she said she must have her strength renewed. Soon 
after this it became necessary for her to go alone to a 
station many miles from where we then were ; and to 
give our readers some idea as to how these native ladies 
are treated when they break away from caste and be- 
come Christians, we will give extracts from her first 
letter after her arrival : 

Dear Miss Sahib — Soon after you left me at the station I be- 
gan to be so afraid, as it was the first time in my life I had been left 
alone at a railway station. I scarcely knew what to do, it being 
nearly midnight, but I began talking with Jesus, and soon felt His 
presence in the room and knew He would care for me. When I 
went to get my ticket I named the station to which I wanted to go ; 
the agent, a Mohammedan, laughed and said he would sell me a 
ticket to the half-way station. In vain I tried to argue with him. At 
last I went to a gentleman who was waiting for the same train and 
he bought the ticket for me. Soon after I entered the railway car- 
riage (ladies have separate compartments with a door leading out on 
either side of the car), a Hindoo came up to the window and began 
asking all sorts of questions. I would not answer him, but told him 
that he had no business talking to me, and that he had better go 
away at once. He would not, however, and began walking back 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 83 

and forth on the " driver's beat " in front of my window. There 
was a poor woman with me, and she was terribly frightened. Get- 
ting down on the floor in front of me, she tried to hide under my 
" chuddah." I told her to be quiet, that our God, the true God,' 
would take care of us. The poor woman, with a bewildered look, 
said : " But if he comes in, what can God do ? " I told her God 
was able to do anything, and knelt down beside her and prayed. 
The man, all this time, stood looking in at the window, making 
faces and saying bad words. I feared that he intended jumping in 
the window, which he could easily have done, but as I prayed I 
gained courage and the woman became calm. 

The little Hindoo girl has no bright, happy child- 
hood. If she belongs to a high-caste family, she is 
kept as in a prison, and if to a low-caste family, she is 
the subject of scorn and contempt, just because she is 
a girl. There were some of these little waifs in the 
orphanage, where we were staying at one time. It 
often happens that some one, professing to be an uncle 
or friend of the family, will come and try to get them 
away. 

One evening, while seated at dinner in the large, airy 
dining-hall, we fell to musing on all the beauty and 
the deformity with which we were surrounded. The 
Hindoo servants, as they glided here and there, clad in 
snow-white turbans and flowing over-garments, their 
sandaled feet moving as noiselessly over the mat-cov- 
ered floor as a cat would glide over our carpets in dear 
old America. One is never aware of their presence until 



84 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

one catches sight of them or their shadows. Many- 
times our "ayah" (waiting-woman) would come into 
the room at our summons. We, perhaps, would be 
engaged at the time of her entrance, and she would 
stand behind our chair for some time, until, by some 
subtle influence, which cannot be described, we would 
feel a presence in the room, and, on looking around, 
recall the fact that we had summoned her, — always 
courteous and obedient. 

Far out yonder are a number of camels resting after 
a long day's march. There, at the village well, stands 
a herder superintending the drawing of water for his 
flocks, which, by the way, is drawn by a bullock fast- 
ened to a rope, Avhich is attached to pulleys. Every- 
thing looked so peaceable that we thought to give 
ourselves to the- sweetness of the hour and enjoy it all. 
But all too suddenly was our day-dream brought to a 
close, by one of the little orphan girls rushing into the 
room and throwing herself at our feet, panting like a 
chased deer, and saying, " Don't let him have me!" — 
repeating it again and again. We raised her up, and, 
after quieting her fears and assuring her that no one 
should harm her, she told us that, while she was out at 
play, her uncle came and tried to get her away, telling 
her that, if she did not come with him, he would catch 
her and whip her to death. 

We at once made the matter known to the police. 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 85 

who went immediately to the man, and gave him to 
understand that if he disturbed the child again, he 
would be severely punished. Ever after this, during 
our stay at that place, the little creature would, every 
night, bring her little mat and lie curled up, like a pet 
dog, on the stone floor at the foot of our bed, and, if 
any sudden sickness seized upon her during the day, she 
would always hasten to us for help. 

She was always so patient. At one time we were 
obliged to cut an opening in her foot to get at a thorn 
which had been imbedded for some days in the flesh. 
While we were at Avork, her large, dark eyes were 
turned toward our own with such a mute appeal, — the 
tears chased each other down the brown cheeks, but 
no sound passed her lips. At last we asked her if she 
wanted to rest. She replied: "No! It hurts, but I 
want it finished." 

Girls are sold by their fathers and uncles, and taken, 
at the age of twelve years, whether willing or not, 
from the home of their childhood, and put into the 
hands of the man who paid the purchase price. We 
have wished it were possible for those in our own land 
to realize the condition of women and girls in India. 
The Hindoo mother loves her child. What must be 
her feelings, as her sweet babe is torn from her embrace, 
and borne away by strangers to a strange home ! Who 
will, or can, minister to her in her lonely hours, as she 



86 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

weeps and sobs for a mother's soothing touch ? As 
we think of these things, we breathe a prayer to God, 
that this cruel custom of child-marriage may very soon 
be banished from the face of this beautiful earth. 

Among women of the higher castes in India, there 
is a wonderful amount of natural refinement, with a 
certain attractive gentleness and quiet self-restraint of 
manner. You feel this in visiting among them. We 
have gone into the most uninviting homes, and found 
at once that we were among ladies. The poor crea- 
tures may be only half clad, and their surroundings 
utterly sordid and mean, yet they will receive you with 
all the quiet courtesy of a Western lady. 

We were permitted, one beautiful morning, an inter- 
view with a Hindoo princess in her *' boudoir." It 
occurred on this wise : One evening a class of Hindoo 
boys, from the Government College, called at the Mis- 
sion Bungalow, where we were spending some time, 
asking for a teacher during the first three weeks of 
their vacation, as they wished to read English. The 
missionary sent them to us, saying that we were the 
only ones at the place who could read English, aside 
from himself, and that he had no time to spare ; that 
he did not know as we had, but they could wait on us 
and see, which they did. 

We had, at that time, the charge of three schools, 
besides much outside work, but felt that a door was 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 87 

being opened here, which we had no right to close 
without laying the matter before the Lord ; so, telling 
the young men to call the next evening at the same 
hour, we gave them permission to retire from the room 
— which is etiquette among the Hindoos. After they 
had gone, we laid all our work and its interests at the 
feet of our adorable Lord, and while there, it was 
made very plain to us that He had set before us this 
open door through which, in His name, we were to 
enter homes and hearts that hitherto had been barred, 
as with triple steel. 

The next evening, at the time appointed, a delega- 
tion of three young men from the class called to learn 
our decision. Arrangements were made for the class 
of twenty-five, to come at five o'clock, and remain two 
hours every evening, except Saturday and Sunday. 
Among the boys was the son of this princess referred 
to, and we were strongly drawn toward him. 

The entire class were from high-caste homes, and 
always appeared in snowy white robes and turbans, 
and were always courteous. We, however, detected a 
princely bearing about him, which was wanting in the 
others. One evening, as 'the boys entered the study, 
we noticed a native gentleman come in. We greeted 
him in the European way, and the princely young man 
introduced him as his father. We handed him a book 
and asked if he would conduct the recitation. He 



88 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

asked to be excused, saying he would prefer to listen. 
When the class was dismissed, he, with others, lingered 
for a little talk, during which he signified a wish that 
we come and see his son's home. We replied that it 
would give us much pleasure to do so. K^ they were 
soon to go to the hills, he asked if we would come on 
the following morning, which was Saturday, saying 
that he would send his carriage for us at nine o'clock. 
We assented, and he bade us good-night, or '^ salaam," 
and hastened away. 

As his fine, manly figure disappeared in the gather- 
ing darkness, we saw him, in imagination, enter his 
palatial home, and hasten here and there among his 
servants, giving orders to prepare for our reception on 
the following morning. We see the poor women hur- 
rying about the place with "whisk" and ''douche," 
while some are sent off to market for the flowers, 
perfumery and " meti," which things form a very 
important factor in Oriental etiquette. 

After all preparations are made, the women gather 
in little groups in their quarters, and, in low tones, dis- 
cuss the great event which is to come off on the fol- 
lowing morning, for never yet has there been permitted 
to a foreign Christian lady the privilege of entering 
their master's elegant home, and they, perhaps, are 
wondering what the *' Miss Sahib" will say to them, — 
if she will bring a book and read to them ; sing, or tell 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 89 

them something of the wonderful land over the sea, 
where she lives. For these dear Hindoo w^omen have 
inquiring minds, which, we found, were very active, 
even though they might be timid and shy. 

The morning dawned bright and beautiful. We and 
our interpreter were up early for a " chota hazra " (little 
breakfast), and finished our morning lesson, as we must 
needs go through with one lesson in the language on 
Saturday, as well as any other day ; for were we not in 
great haste to learn, so as to be able to speak to this 
people of all the wonderful things the God of heaven 
and earth had endured for them and us? 

Before we were aware of the lateness of the hour, a 
span of prancing grays, drawing an elegant carriage, 
were driven up to the door. A liveried footman stood 
on the box behind. We hastily donned our hat and 
gloves, and, taking our sun-umbrella (which we must 
have in going to and from the house, the rays of the 
sun being so fierce), we hurried down the steps, and 
were soon whirling over the beautiful roads which 
lead to the homes of the wealthy gentlemen of this 
Oriental city. 

After a ride of about 'thirty-five minutes, the car- 
riage was drawn up in front of what seemed to us a 
solid stone wall, perhaps twenty-five feet high, with a 
face length of forty feet. Nearly in the center was a 
gate or door made of iron, and which revealed an 



go 577?^ V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

Opening large enough to admit an ordinary-sized load 
of hay. As we drove up, the footman ran and spoke 
to a man who was standing near the door with a small 
bar of iron in his hand. With this he gave three dis- 
tinct knocks on the door. At once we heard the sound 
of bolts and chains within. The door opened and we 
entered a wide, airy hall, lighted from above. The 
next moment the heavy door swung shut and was 
bolted by the warder who sat just inside. 

We were conducted through the hall by a servant in 
snowy-white costume. At the end of this hall was a 
small iron door which opened into a court, or minia- 
ture park, where we saw many beautiful plants, flowers, 
and birds of gorgeous plumage singing their morning 
songs as they flew about in the branches of the dif- 
ferent shrubs. The gay butterfly flitted hither and 
thither, and a number of tiny fountains were sending 
forth their sparkling waters. Boys and men were 
walking leisurely about, talking over and enjoying the 
beauties of the morning, but we did not see any little 
girls out there. Alas! they were behind bars and 
screens. 

This garden was surrounded by the house, with 
upper and lower verandas. The verandas opening 
out from the ladies' apartment were fenced by a beau- 
tiful Japanese screen. Our guide took us directly 
across the garden, where was an open door leading 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 91 

into a dimly-lighted but spacious hall, which we en- 
tered. About half-way along the hall, we came to a 
narrow stairway, up which we followed our guide. 
Reaching the top, we found ourselves in a hall, similar 
to the one below, only elegantly furnished. At little 
distances apart were low " divans " covered by cloth of 
gold having a crimson center. It was lighted by 
beautiful chandeliers, from which hung (seemingly) 
thousands of glistening pendants, which sparkled like 
countless diamonds. Directly across the landing from 
the hall was a closed door with a tiny silver bell at the 
side, which our guide touched. Very soon a little 
waiting-maid opened the door and we were ushered 
into the drawing-room, where sat our guest of the pre- 
vious evening, and the possessor of all this wealth. 
He arose as we entered, and, after greeting us in true 
Oriental style, begged us to make ourselves perfectly 
comfortable. 

While he is speaking, let us take a hasty glance 
around the room. On one side, the wall is covered 
with the most elegant tapestry, while, on the opposite 
side, dividing this from an adjoining room, is an ele- 
gant Japanese screen. A*t the further end of the room 
is a marble table so arranged as to be used for a bil- 
liard table. Through the center of the room are three 
chandeliers suspended from the elegant ceiling over 
our heads. Arranged in exquisite order all about the 



92 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

room are daintily-shaped '' divans " elegantly uphol- 
stered. In the center of the room stands a table, more 
for ornament than for use, but on this occasion it is 
literally covered with flowers, the perfume of which is 
so exquisite as to almost cause faintness. The carpet 
on which we trod was almost like down, with such 
rich colors, yet so carefully blended as to form a work 
of almost unrivaled art. On a marble sideboard were 
fine cut-glass goblets and gold plates, and, over all, in 
a niche in the wall overlaid with gold, stood the horrid 
idol " Ganesa." 

Our powers of description not being the best, we 
have given our readers but an outline of all we saw in 
that hasty glance over the apartment. We took the 
seats which had been prepared for us, and, after talk- 
ing a short time of the affairs of our nation and the 
English government and its relation to India, we asked 
our host if we might have the privilege of seeing his 
daughters, to which he gave consent, but said that he 
must retire from the room before they came in, as one 
of his daughters was a bride. So saying, he gave the 
little waiting-maid who stood at the door an order to 
bring the young ladies in, and then rose and carefully 
closed the inside blinds of the lower half of the win- 
dows, looking out on the court, after which he stepped 
into an adjoining room opposite the one which Ave en- 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 93 

tered. The screen referred to separated the rooms, so 
we knew he could hear all that might be said. 

Very soon the little maid came in, followed by three 
beautiful girls of perhaps ten or twelve years. They 
were all elegantly dressed and one was in bridal robes. 
As they entered the room, they allowed their '' chud- 
dars " or shawls to fall from their heads in graceful 
folds over their shoulders, and greeted us with shy, 
gentle courtesy. They wished to ask us some ques- 
tions about the girls over the sea, which we gave them 
permission to do. 

When they had finished, we asked them how they 
spent their time, as they could not walk outside nor 
play among the beautiful birds and flowers. They 
replied that sometimes, in the evening, they were al- 
lowed to ride in their father's close carriage, and they 
had fancy-work to which they were obliged to devote 
a portion of each day. Then they had a play-room 
where they could play games, but a large portion of 
their time was spent with their dress and their gods. 
They brought out their fancy-work for us to examine, 
and we found it very pretty and the work perfect. 
After this, they brought their perfumery caskets, of 
which each girl had one. They were all rosewood, 
inlaid with pearl, about six inches square by five deep, 
and were filled with tiny glass bottles, overlaid with 
gold and containing different kinds of perfume. Aside 



94 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

from this, each had a httle rubber tube filled with the 
most exquisite perfume, with which they desired to 
spray us. It was so novel and withal so dainty that 
we allowed them to throw it over our hands and 
clothing. 

Soon we asked to see the women of the house. The 
girls exchanged glances, and one o'f them called the 
little maid and gave her some message which she took 
to our host, soon returning with the answer that the 
women could come in. 

She went out by the way we entered, and soon 
returned, followed by three or four women who looked 
weary and sad. One held in her arms a little boy who 
looked very ill. He had fallen on some sharp thing 
and injured his thigh, and at this time had been suf- 
fering some weeks with it. Then they asked us to 
sing, which we did, and told in a few words the old, 
old story, and then asked permission to return home. 

But we soon learned there was another person in the 
home who wanted to have the privilege of a private 
interview. Our guide came, and we were conducted 
out into the room where our host was chatting with 
some friends. They both arose, the customary adieus 
were said, and we followed our guide out into the 
veranda. Then, going down a flight of steps and a 
little distance on the lower veranda, we entered a 
little reception-room, where stood another waiting- 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 95 

maid. Our guide "salaamed " to us and stepped back. 
The child touched a bell, which was answered by one 
in an inner room, and when she heard this, she opened 
the door and bade us enter. There at a little embroid- 
ery table sat a lady in the most elegant attire one 
could conceive. She arose and came gracefully for- 
ward, and, grasping our hand, made us welcome. We 
felt at perfect ease in her presence. 

The conversation was at first of dress and home 
adornment. We saw she had books (Hindoo, of 
course), lying about her room. We asked if she liked 
to read. She made answer that she liked to read some 
books, '' but," added she, " I do not like to read these 
books " (referring to those in the room), '' but I like 
to read the book you gave my son." This was a copy 
of the New Testament written in Hindoo. 

At first she seemed afraid of our interpreter, who 
was a " Maratta " lady, but we told her not to fear, as 
she was a Christian and wanted to help her ; then she 
talked freely. She said an English lady taught her to 
read and write when she was a child in her father's 
house, and had told her about the one true God, and 
she believed in Him and. Him alone, but she dare not 
let her husband know, as he might kill her. Then she 
gave us the following message to deliver: 

'' Tell your dear sisters, in your dear home land, that 
the women of India thank them for all they have done 



96 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

and are doing to break the galling chains from off our 
bodies and souls. We know it is from the women of 
America our help must come, and we are waiting and 
praying for them to open the prison doors." 

This she said with tears silently chasing each other 
down her brown cheeks. She said her son was one 
with her in faith, and often said that he felt he ought 
to make a public confession of his allegiance to Christ, 
but she could not endure the thought of his going 
away from her, as he would be obliged to do if he 
professed Christianity. 

Soon after this she touched a little bell, and there 
entered a number of serving-women bearing wreaths 
made of the beautiful "champa" flowers, which are 
pure white and very rich in perfume. These they 
threw over our shoulders, while others came in bear- 
ing trays of the rich "meti" (native candy), which 
were placed before us. Our hostess had hers served 
on a separate tray. Her son came in and we all par- 
took of the tempting dainties. 

When we asked to be excused, saying we must re- 
turn to our work, the son went out and soon returned 
with some large, beautiful leaves and thorns. He took 
the " meti " from our tray and wrapped it carefully in 
the large leaves, using the thorns in place of pins to 
secure it. There was over two pounds of the delicious 
sweets, and we knew not what he was intending to do 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 97 

with them, but he took them and went out, bidding us 
'' Good-morning." 

When we reached home we found the sweets on our 
table. The matron said a servant brought it, saying 
it was for the ''Miss Sahib America." When we 
entered the carriage, we asked the footman to drop 
the curtains, as we were wreathed almost too freely to 
go through the streets, unless slightly hidden from the 
peering gaze of the public eye. When we reached the 
Mission Bungalow, the young man who came down to 
the carriage remarked that we both would stand well 
for May queens. 

We have been very minute in our description of get- 
ting into this home, that our readers may know in what 
the life of a Hindoo lady consists, and how impossible 
it would be for one of them to leave her home without 
her lord's permission. 

The solemn hush of midnight has settled over the 
Mission and its inmates, and we will steal noiselessly 
from our couch and seek our study, where we have so 
often wrestled with the depression which settles over 
us and our work. We pace the bamboo-covered floor 
in agony of soul and praye.r to God, for light and sal- 
vation to penetrate these darkened hearts and minds 
all about us. Our footfall gives back no sound. But 
hark ! There comes a sound from without, as the voice 
of one who pleads for the life of another, in subdued 



98 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

and solemn tones. We listen ! No sound breaks the 
awful stillness of the night, except the dismal howl of 
some stray jackal, as he prowls about for some dead 
body. 

We withdraw from the door and again enter into 
conversation with our God. But hark ! Again those 
sounds are heard, nearer and more intense than before. 
Again we step to the open door, — and what a sight 
greets our eyes. We had told ourselves that the 
inmates of the place were all asleep, and we would 
not be disturbed in our midnight devotions; but here 
was one of our number out in the clear moonlight, 
with bared brow upturned to the dome of heaven, 
pacing back and forth with clasped hands as he pleads, 
— not for the physical life of some heart dear to him, 
but for the souls of these men and women all about 
us, and for the great work which he feels pressing upon 
him from every side. 

We turn noiselessly away, and leave the good man 
alone with his God. After having slept for some time, 
we were suddenly awakened by what seemed to us a 
light footfall. We arose, and, hastily going through 
our bath-room, peered through the screen-door, to see 
if any one was on the veranda. We caught sight of 
a *' coolie " (the lowest caste among the Hindoos) enter- 
ing the room of our matron. As he came out, we saw 
that he held in his hand a silver cup. We made a 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 99 

slight noise. The man stopped, turned about, and, 
setting the cup down, rushed down the veranda steps. 
We passed through the house to the room where he 
had been, reached outside, took the cup and carried it 
to our own room. 

Just outside our door was a safe for keeping food in, 
made by tacking wire matting on a heavy wooden frame. 
To keep the white ants from entering this, we had the 
supporting posts stand in cups of water or oil. After 
a time we heard steps again. We knew the watchmen 
were asleep. We started for the door a second time. 
At this point our interpreter awoke and, in a low voice, 
asked what was the matter. The would-be thief over- 
heard her, and outside we heard a terrible crash, and 
rushed out just in time to see him clear the veranda 
with one leap and disappear in the darkness. The 
watchmen were all awake by this time, but could see 
no one, and we went quietly back to our room, know- 
ing that the man had received such a fright that he 
would not return again that night. 

The light of morning revealed the cause of the crash. 
The man had been trying to get food from the locked 
safe, and, when he heard voices, he was in such haste 
to get away, that he ran against the safe and over- 
turned the whole thing, which gave the "mahter" 
(sweeper) work for half a day. But it did not end 
here. 



lOO STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

A few days after this, a man came slowly up the 
steps and asked to see the missionary. He then con- 
fessed to him that he was the person who had tried to 
rob us, but Avhen he heard the noise the first time and 
left the cup, he hid for a little while, and when he 
returned and did not find the cup, he thought perhaps 
the Christian's God had taken it away, and he dared 
not go inside again, but thought he would take some 
food from the safe, and when that tipped over he 
thought their God was very angry with him, and would 
come and swallow him up if he did not confess. The 
missionary took this opportunity to teach him of the 
true God and His desires toward all mankind. The 
poor man felt very much humbled and went away, say- 
ing he would try to be a better man. 

But some of these people must have '* line upon line 
and precept upon precept," if one would truly benefit 
them. We had some very trying experiences with our 
servants. On one occasion we thought that the " beas- 
tie " (the man who sells the mission all the water used) 
was bringing us bad water from some water pool, 
instead of from a well, and hired a police to watch 
him. He learned that the man was bringing us water 
from a tank where the natives waded in the water every 
day. He was severely reprimanded, sent away, and 
another man taken in his place. 

As a filter for our drinkincr water, we used four 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. loi 

earthen jars, three of which have small holes in the 
bottom, with a handful of sand and charcoal thrown 
in, and the water is supposed to be poured through a 
thin piece of cloth into the topmost jar, and, after 
having passed through the three, is pure for use. 

After a time, we saw that the water, instead of being 
filtered, was poured directly into the bottom one. We 
could not have such work, so, calling the man, we told 
him what we had learned. He stoutly protested and 
said that he was innocent. At last, falling on his 
knees, and assuming a look of horror, meanwhile 
pointing to our pet cat that lay some distance away, 
said, " Miss Sahib, the cat emptied it in there." 

We answered, " Very well ; we will deal with the 
cat." 

The next time we saw him coming we stationed our- 
selves where we could observe all his movements, but 
he knew nothing of our presence. When he reached 
the water-stand he gave a hurried glance about, and, 
not seeing anyone, began pouring the water from his 
goat-skin bucket. When he was about half-through, 
we emerged from our place of hiding and quietly asked 
the man what he was doing. He answered, with much 
surprise, that he was " washing the water-jar. Miss 
Sahib." We remarked that he used a large quantity 
of water, and could see by the look on his face that he 
was frightened. 



102 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

We had no more trouble with the water for some 
time, but one must needs be "■ on the watch-tower," so 
to speak, every moment of the time. 

The " dohba," or laundry-man, came after the soiled 
linen, which must be counted and looked over in his 
presence, to see just how many buttons are missing, 
and how many, if any, rents there are in each piece. 
Then tell him what part of the money his due will be 
withheld for missing buttons and unnecessary rents in 
the clothes when they come home from the laundry. 
Otherwise, a new garment would not stand more than 
one washing, as he takes the clothes to some stream of 
water, and selects a huge, flat stone. Then he beats 
the water with them for a while, and, going back to 
the bank, will beat them on the stones, pouring water 
over them when needed. Thus they work until the 
clothes are clean. Then they are dried and taken 
away to be ironed. 

One morning our *' dohba " brought the clothes 
home. Seeing a number of holes in a fine table- 
spread, we asked the man what that meant. He at 
once assumed a horrified air, and said, '* Miss Sahib, 
the flies did it while I was sleeping." 

A short time after this occurrence, a Eurasian gen- 
tleman, a friend of the Mission, called, with a request 
that we accompany his family on a pleasure trip of a 
few hundred miles to visit the palace of a. native king, 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 103 

represented to be the finest native city in all India. 
Feeling in much need of a change and rest, we ac- 
cepted the kind invitation. The expense of the trip 
was to be met by our host, the king. A private rail- 
way coach was chartered, as we must needs travel all 
night. Carriages were to meet us at the station and 
drive us four miles, when the royal elephants would 
take us the remaining three miles, and thus we were 
to enter the palace grounds. 

The day arrived all too soon, and, after going 
through with its accustomed duties, we hastened to 
our study to arrange the work for the coming two 
days, so as to make it as easy for our helpers as possi- 
ble during our absence. We had just finished our task 
when our '' ayah's " voice was heard just outside the 
door, " Missa Baba, carriage all waiting." We donned 
hat and gloves and were soon whirling through the 
noisy streets toward the railway station. The sun 
dropped like a ball of fire behind the western sky just 
as we left the carriage and entered the ladies' section 
of the rail coach. 

Being very weary, we made arrangements at once 
for a night's rest. Half of our section was occupied 
with seats, and the other half contained berths sepa- 
rated by a heavy curtain. We had lain down and 
were sleeping heavily when the train which was to 
couple on our car came into the station. Then oc- 



104 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

curred rather an amusing thing. The servant we took 
with us had never been in the cars before, and when 
the train backed down it hit our car, but failed to at- 
tach it, giving it a severe jogging, and we were awak- 
ened from a dehghtful dream by being suddenly 
snatched up by our a3/ah, who thrust our head out 
of a small window in the side of the car. She plead 
with us to save ourselves by getting out quickly, as 
the car was certainly being swallowed up by the earth 
or something else. 

As soon as we could control our amazement and 
laughter at finding ourselves in such a strange plight, 
we told the poor woman how utterly impossible it 
would be for us to get out of the car through that tiny 
window, assuring her that there was no harm coming 
to us, and that our car would soon move on with the 
train. These women have been taught by their priests 
to believe everything bad of foreigners, and she, in her 
ignorance, believed it was some trap for her — that our 
God would protect us and she would be destroyed. 
God grant the timie may soon come when the fetters 
of superstition and idolatry shall be cast off by this 
people, and they made free in the liberty wherewith 
Christ maketh all free. 

We traveled all night, with nothing of note to dis- 
turb our slumbers, except now and then the angry 
growl of some stray tiger, as we passed through the 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 105 

jungle, would be borne to us from afar. When we 
alighted from the car a novel scene greeted our eyes. 
There was no station-house, but instead an immense 
wooden platform, and at one end of this, two hundred 
bags of grain were piled so as to be nearly three feet 
high. The cook had taken advantage of these, and 
arranged our little breakfast on one end of this novel 
table. It was well he did, for, before we were through 
eating, the trees all about us seemed literally swarming 
with monkeys, and the vexatious creatures seemed 
determined to become masters of the situation. As it 
was, they made two or three raids on our table, and 
carried off most of the fruit laid out for our breakfast. 
Having secured it, they would scamper up the nearest 
tree, laughing and chattering with their fellows over 
their spoil in the most provoking way imaginable. 

We endured this spoiling of our (not goods, but) 
breakfast with as much grace as possible, knowing we 
we were in the province of a powerful king (our host) 
who looked upon our tormentors as sacred, and wor- 
shiped them as we worship the God of heaven and 
earth. Our breakfast was soon finished and we were 
whirled away in the carriages toward the palace on the 
hill, and in great haste we were to reach it, for who 
has not heard, both in history and in song, about this 
wonderful place, once the center of the Mogul power 
and cruelty ? 



io6 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT, 

When we had driven about four miles we saw in the 
distance, and above us, the object of our search, while 
nearer was a sight which would have greatly interested 
our readers. Two large elephants belonging to the 
Rhaja were standing in waiting, ready to take us up 
the hill, a distance of three miles. On their backs were 
cushioned seats large enough to carry four persons 
each — our party consisting of eight. The native driver 
rode in front with a foot on either side of the huge 
creature's neck, with an iron hook or rod in his hand. 
We left our carriages, and the elephants were com- 
manded to kneel down. Then ladders were placed 
against them, and we were assisted to our seats on 
their backs. 

When all was in readiness word was given them to 
rise, and we felt a rocking and swaying under us, and^ 
in a moment, felt ourselves far up in the air, going 
fairly fast. The motion resembles that of a ship at sea 
when there is a slight swell on. On one side of our 
path the rocks were high above us, while on the other 
was a dizzy depth. The road wound around and up in 
a zig-zag manner. When half-way up we came to an 
extended plain, beautifully wooded, with a wide, clear 
stream running through the center. We crossed this 
on an iron bridge, just below which the water dashed 
over the rocks into the gorge, making a fall of some 
thirty feet, and far below we could trace its winding 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 107 

path like shimmering silver, as the rays of the morning 
sun kissed its laughing, sparkling waters. 

We halted at a mountain spring and asked for a 
'' lota " of water to drink, as our cups were all at the 
station. An old Hindoo brought a large gourd and 
filled it with water and gave us a new cup to drink 
from, and when our party had all been refreshed, he 
threw the cup away, it being unclean after a Christian 
had touched it. The gourd he held in his own hand, 
taking great care not to let it touch the cup while 
pouring out the water. We paid him for the cup and 
went on our way. 

On reaching the palace grounds we were admitted 
through heavy iron doors, guarded by native soldiers. 
The elephants again knelt and we dismounted, by the 
aid of our ladders, and ascended to the interior of 
the palace by broad marble steps. The first object 
which greeted us on entering was an image represent- 
ing the goddess Kale, made of marble, overlaid with 
gold, two large diamonds for eyes, and over her was a 
large fan kept in motion by a man pulling a string 
which was attached to it. This was to keep the idol 
cool. Near by was a Hindoo at prayers. 

We cannot tell all we saw in this place. There was 
one room, of which the walls and ceiling were like a 
mirror, overlaid with white scroll-work, so that, which- 
ever way we looked, we could see ourselves multiplied 



io8 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

a thousand times. We spent an hour in this palace 
and about the grounds, then mounted our elephants 
and turned our faces toward the city, which we reached 
about noon. After lunch and a short sleep we started 
for the , new palace, which is occupied by the Rhaja 
and his family. - • 

We were not allowed to see the ladies' apartments, 
but visited the reception hall, which is, indeed, grand 
and beautiful. The room is seventy by one hundred 
feet, the ceilings supported by twenty marble pillars, 
with wondrous carvings of birds and flowers. There 
were sixteen chandeliers, the center one larger than the 
others, having hundreds of jets with glass reflectors, 
beside a number of side lamps. The floor was covered 
with plush carpeting. On three sides were galleries 
screened by beautiful tapestry. 

Passing from here we entered the Rhaja's work-room. 
On the carpet was a very fine cloth of purple velvet, 
nearly covered with raised flowers and leaves, embroid- 
ered with gold made into thread. This was designed 
for the jubilee given in honor of Queen Victoria's 
fiftieth year's reign, which was held that year. The 
cloth was to cover an elephant which was to be sent 
her to ride, and was three by six yards. 

From here we went up a winding stair and passed 
through rooms where many men were at work on pre- 
cious stones. After watching them for awhile we passed 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 109 

out into the palace grounds. At one side was a small, 
artificial lake, containing many alligators and turtles. 
We were entertained by hearing a man calling to them, 
and then seeing them all hasten in the direction of the 
call from all parts of the lake. We were informed 
afterward that the king kept those horrid creatures for 
the express purpose of destroying his wives and daugh- 
ters when any one of them disobeyed or angered him 
in the least. They were taken at night and shoved off 
the wall into the lake for the alligators to devour. 

In the gardens we saw flying foxes and flying squir- 
rels, and a great variety of birds. We visited the 
ladies' bath-rooms. The baths were of marble, bor- 
dered by gold, set with precious stones, and the ceiling 
and walls were of marble, also set with precious stones. 
We next visited the royal billiard hall, which was some- 
thing beyond compare in elegance and comfort. From 
the palace we drove to the royal gardens and menag- 
erie, where we saw beautiful beasts and birds from all 
countries. The dangerous ones were placed in strong 
iron cages, while the others were in small inclosures. 

We were very much interested in the royal tigers. 
Such magnificent beasts we had never before seen. 
They would put their noses between the bars and lick 
the hand of the keeper. After a time he did some- 
thing which enraged them, and it was enough to make 



Tio STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

one's blood chill to see them throw themselves against 
the bars of the cage, and to hear their horrid growls. 

In the center of the garden was a beautiful fernery. 
As soon as we entered it we almost fancied ourselves in 
fairy-land. We then visited the museum, which was a 
fine marble building in Greek style. In it were natural 
curiosities from all lands. We found there specimens 
of all the implements of war used by the natives of 
India, and also specimens of the precious stones and 
of the different grains and fruits. Specimens of fine 
needle-work, and of the costumes of the different castes 
were also seen. 

As our time was limited we were obliged to hasten 
through these wonderful galleries. Night was coming 
silently and swiftly over the earth when we entered 
the carriages and were driven to the house of a friend, 
where dinner was served us on the lawn, which was 
brilliantly lighted by Chinese lanterns. We remained 
in this house enjoying its beauty and comfort until 
midnight, when we took the train for home. 

We learned two things while at the palace on the 
hill. One was that our host, the king, was afraid of 
snakes, which fear amounted almost to insanity. If he 
went out of the grounds on his horse he must needs 
wear hunter's boots, reaching nearly to his waist, even 
though he went only a short distance, and before he 
entered his carriage every part must be examined to be 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. iii 

sure there were no snakes hidden ; and the other thing 
we learned was that he was as much afraid of lightning 
as of snakes, and had glass on the inner soles of his 
sandals and under the seat of his carriage, thinking to 
be safe by this precaution. 

There is a quaint saying w^iich has often been quo- 
ted, ** Always a calm before a storm." But we are not 
always prepared for the storms when they break over 
us. A June morning in the Orient is not very com- 
fortable at the best, but when attended by those hot 
winds, which make one feel as though near a heated fur- 
nace-mouth, it is almost unendurable. Every breath of 
air you get, no matter where you hide yourself, has that 
same awful heat. Such a morning came to us once 
upon, a time. In the very air we saw and felt forebod- 
ings of evil, and this same feeling seemed to enter into 
our servants. They went about their accustomed du- 
ties with a more noiseless tread than usual, and a hush 
seemed to fall over all the house and its inmates. 

By and by there was borne in upon our ears terrible 
groans and shrieks and cries for help. A strong, hot 
wind was blowing from the south. Soon we detected 
another sound, more awful, more terrible, than that of 
human voices, like the surging and roaring of many 
waters, near at hand. We stepped out on the veranda, 
and there stood all of our servants with a look of ter- 
ror on their faces, and a great fear seemed to fill them. 



112 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

We questioned in a steady voice what the matter was. 
We asked more to reassure them, and let them know 
we cared for their welfare, than anything else, for too 
well we knew what that hurrying of feet and shouting 
of orders meant. 

They all answered in one breath, '' Missa Baba, very 
great fire just there," pointing north of our Mission 
Bungalow. We gave them permission to go and try 
to crush out the terrible monster, who was. sweeping 
on so madly, and leaving such destruction in his path. 

There was at this time a young Eurasian lady at the 
Mission with her mother. She was of that fearless 
nature which, in her case, amounted almost to reck- 
lessness. She ordered her horse in great haste, saying 
she was going to ride down to the scene of destruc- 
tion, and see what she could do to relieve the sufferings 
of the women and children. We tried to reason with 
her, knowing how fire always frightens a horse, but all 
we could say would not avail. She said her horse 
would go wherever she bade him, if her hand held the 
rein. We felt we could say no more, and soon she was 
galloping over the compounds that lay between our 
building and the fire ; faster and faster flew her horse's 
hoofs till he scarcely seemed to touch the ground, but 
his rider sat firmly in her saddle. 

As he neared the fire, he stopped as suddenly as 
though he were shot. His rider had expected this, 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 113 

and was prepared. He threw his head high in the air, 
and, with a tremendous snort, plunged forward and was 
soon hidden from our view by the smoke and dust. 
After a few minutes, which seemed hours to us, he 
appeared with his precious burden, coming toward the 
house. As they came nearer, we saw the girl's face 
wore a look of mingled sadness and perplexity, in 
place of the usual careless, happy one. Without dis- 
mounting, she called us to go back with her, as there 
was such a pitiable scene she had just left, and she 
thought we might be able to give some relief. With- 
out waiting for many words, we took a roll of ban- 
dages and a bottle of oil, and hastened down to 
render such assistance as we might to the wounded 
and dying. 

There were between one and two hundred homes in 
the path of those greedy flames, and, in less time than 
it takes to write this, they were ruined heaps of burn- 
ing embers. Their fire-extinguishers were not first- 
class, and then, too, it being near the close of the 
heated term, there was but little water for these brave 
men to use in fighting this hungry foe. There was a 
large tank nearly half full of water in the mission yard, 
but, it being difficult of access, was a great hindrance. 
Some hundred men would run up and fill large buckets, 
and others would carry them. 

Our cook made two large buckets of tea, under the 



114 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

direction of the Eurasian girl, and carried down for all 
to drink who cared to, after the fearful fight was over, 
for there was no time to drink while those great red 
arms were reaching out to clasp, in their deadly and 
destructive embrace, their wives and children and 
homes. The chief man (in America we would say 
mayor) of the city, came promptly to the relief of 
these poor people, and gave each family food or money 
to keep them till they could earn more. But we can 
never forget the terrible sights and sounds of that day 
and hour. 

We followed the dear girl who had called us to go 
down to the relief of some of the sufferers, and, on our 
way, encountered sights which would move the strong- 
est heart, and send a shudder through the stoutest 
frame, for the fire had broken out at the hour when 
the wives and mothers were away to market, getting 
food for the morning meal, and their little ones were 
having their morning nap. 

Soon we saw our guide stop, and, hurrying on, found 
a young mother with her two children. One was 
already in the embrace of death, while the other was 
past human help. The mother would throw herself 
on the ground, beating her head and tearing her hair, 
all the while uttering heart-rending moans and cries. 
She would continue this for a time, and then sitting 
up, would tenderly lift the lifeless form of her baby 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 115 

boy, and, pressing it to her heart, would murmur the 
loving words known only to a mother, and call for her 
babe to come back to her. She did not seem to notice 
the suffering one who still lived. 

After making him as comfortable as we could, we 
turned our attention to the woman, but she would not 
listen to our words. After a time she took the babe, 
and, holding it out to us, said, in a voice which seemed 
awful in the intensity of its grief, '' My baby has gone 
from me, Miss Sahib, and I do not know where. Only 
his body is with me." Then she broke out in wild 
lamentations. 

We saw our comfortings would not avail, so we 
turned toward Him who comforted the sorrowing widow 
of Nain, and as we prayed peace came to the woman, 
and she took up the living child, and bade a neighbor 
follow her with the lifeless body of her babe, and we 
arose and went our way, pondering over the great com- 
passionate love of God, who says, '' Not a sparrow falls 
to the ground without your Father's notice." 

As we poured on oil and bound up the wounds of 
these brave men, after they had finished the fight with 
the fire-fiend, our mind went back over a few weeks, 
when we had seen some men with a fire kindled, at 
which they were heating irons red-hot to burn the 
arms and back of a young widow, just because she 
would not work fast enough to suit the cruel brother of 



Ti6 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

her dead husband. We thought this a good time to 
administer a httle personal lecture. The incident in 
regard to the burning came to us in this wise: 

We were called upon one morning, together with 
our interpreter and one other helper, to take a journey 
to one of the outlying villages, to tell the glad news of 
redeeming love. We were detained on the route by 
an accident to our cart, and it was then necessary for 
camels to be secured to complete the remainder of the 
journey. As we were very weary with the toil and 
heat of the previous night, we went to sleep in the 
Travelers' Rest house, while our interpreter and friend 
did a little work among the native women who had 
gathered on the veranda. We slept long and well, and 
at last were awakened by a woman's voice in the build- 
ing, in great distress; while outside we heard men in 
earnest conversation with our friend. We went outside 
to learn, if possible, what the trouble was. 

The woman proved to be a girl widow, of, perhaps, 
thirteen years, and there were already scars on her 
arms where she had been burned to the bone, and her 
feet and legs were bleeding where they had whipped 
her. We soon saw the cause of her present terror. 
A little distance away was a crowd of men and women 
— all of one family. There they had the fire and 
irons, but, when they were about to apply them, the 
child, by some means, escaped from her tormentors 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 117 

and rushed into the building where we were, and our 
friend was trying to argue with the men sent to bring 
her back. 

When we came out she followed, pleading us to save 
her from their cruelty. We went out to where her 
tormentors were gathered, and plead long and earnestly 
in her behalf. After a time our cartman came and said 
the camels were ready and could wait no longer, and 
we would better leave them to settle the matter; but 
before we left the place they promised our friend that 
they would punish the woman no more, if she would 
go home with them and do her work as she should, 
and not play all the time when she was sent to bring 
wood and water. 

The full moon was just showing its golden rim as we 
mounted our camels and rode away. After ascending 
the hill a mile or so we turned about and halted our 
camels to view the beautiful scenery which we had just 
left in the valley below. There were some fifty or 
more fine Arabian horses tethered, with here and there 
a camel, while round them, grouped in a circle, were 
the white tents of the Bedouins, glistening in the warm 
light of the Orient moonbeams, making a picture of 
rare loveliness which, when once seen, can never be 
forgotten, but, like the kaleidoscope, is ever bringing 
before the mind's eye some new and beautiful change, 
filling our souls with visions of that land where there 



Ii8 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

is no sin nor suffering. But even while we looked on 
this there was borne to our ears, on the breath of 
evening, the wail of anguish as some cruel master 
beat his inoffensive slaves. We murmured, '* God has 
made everything beautiful, but man has marred His 
works." 

All this passed through our mind as we bound up the 
wounds of these poor men, and we asked, '' Don't you 
think it cruel to burn your poor little girls in. the way 
you do?" He uttered a word of dissatisfaction, and 
said, '^ Miss Sahib, we must do something to keep our 
women in subjection, else we would not know how to 
manage them." 

These women are rather wilful, taking into consider- 
ation the fact that they are mere children. To illus- 
trate. Our '' mather " (sweeper) bought a wife while in 
our employ. She was a girl of perhaps fourteen years 
of age, with large, beautiful brown eyes, which at times 
looked like liquid mirrors of the soul. Her complexion 
was a rich olive, with a roguish dimple in cheek 
and lip, which were tinged with the red of a full-ripe 
cherry. 

We loved the child from the first moment we saw 
the sweet smile on that careless face, and the feeling 
was mutual, for she never seemed to tire of caring for 
our wants, and when there was nothing left that she 
could do, she would sit down outside the door, where 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. iig 

her eyes could rest on our face, and there remain till 
called to her work ; and many times when called she 
would remain silent until we reminded her of the call. 
Then a mischievous smile would illuminate her face, as 
she made answer: ''Yes, Miss Sahib, I heard them, 
but did not want to leave you." 

Our building was rather high, and we occupied the 
second story. A veranda surrounded the entire build- 
ing, the railing of which was not very strong, especially 
facing cur room, while underneath were stones all 
about. After a time the girl got a habit of coming and 
leaning back against this railing. Our ayah warned 
her several times of her danger, should the rail give 
way, but she would only laugh and say that she was 
not afraid. Finally the ayah told her husband, 
and he tried to persuade her to stay away, but she 
would not. 

At last we thought, to save her pain, we would speak 
to her. We told her how badly it would hurt her to 
fail on those stones, and what a naughty girl she was 
not to mind the ayah. Again the old light laugh, and 
the words, " Miss Sahib, I won't fall." We said no 
more to the child, but a little later, just after dinner 
one day, we heard a 'scream, followed by a moan. 
Almost at the same instant came the ayah's voice call- 
ing us to come at once. We hastened down, and 
there lay the sweeper's wife in a senseless heap on the 



I20 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. - 

stones, with blood oozing from nose, ears and mouth. 
We called for water, and asked the ayah to raise the 
sufferer's head. This she refused to do, as it would 
break her caste to touch a sweeper's wife. We gave 
her to understand that we scorned her excuse as 
unworthy the name of woman, and at the same time 
took the girl's head in our lap, sending for bandages, 
in which we bound up the poor, bruised face. 

But the hardest part of our work was yet to come. 
As we wished the child (we say child, for she was noth- 
ing more in years and understanding, if she zvas the 
wife of a man who had seen forty years) carried to their 
quarters on the other side of the mission building, we 
called her husband, and at sight of his wife in that 
condition there passed over his face a look of scorn and 
contempt. We bade him raise her head, as she seemed 
uncomfortable. This he refused to do, as it would be 
a menial task for a man to do anything for a woman. 
Then we gave him a short lecture on the duties of man 
toward woman, — what w^ould be expected of him in our 
own land, and how the fathers and brothers there treat 
the women of their homes. After this he took her 
tenderly in his arms and laid her on the bamboo mat 
which had been prepared for the purpose. 

These poor working people are very simple in their 
ways of living. We were invited one day to take din- 
ner in one of these homes. Our host and hostess had 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 121 

renounced idolatry and were worshipers of the true 
God. The house was made of adobe, two stories, one 
tiny room in each story, with stairs outside to get to 
the room above. The lower room served as cook and 
dining-room. Not many American ladies would think 
of cooking dinner on such a stove as was found in this 
home, and in many of these Indian homes. There 
being no floor in this room, the ground was swept 
clean and a snowy- white cloth spread down in the cen- 
ter. The dinner consisted of boiled rice, vegetable 
curry, dol, barley cakes and tea. As we sat down, 
Turk-fashion, on a mat which had been spread for 
us, we noticed four or five flat stones, laid in a circle so 
as to leave a space in the center, where a hole was 
scooped in the earth, and in this hollow was a charcoal 
fire. This, we were informed, was a Hindoo lady's 
cook-stove. Here our hostess had cooked the food 
before us, and baked the rich, crisp cakes, her mould- 
ing board being a flat stone, and her rolling-pin a stone 
ground off round. There were no knives or forks or 
spoons at this dinner. Near each place was a small 
folded towel and a finger-bowl containing water. Our 
hostess took a quantity of the rice and dol from the 
large bowl in the center of the table, also of the curry, 
and put it into our bowl with her fingers, but when we 
commenced to eat our rice and gravy with our fingers 
we made rather awkward work, we can assure you. 



122 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

That dinner was one eaten under difficulties, but we 
were glad to know something of the home surround- 
ings of these people. 

After dinner, which was served at four o'clock, we 
were invited up-stairs. Here were mats grouped 
around on the floor in place of chairs. We were 
given a seat on one of these, and spent a little time 
giving instruction in the Bible, and the most profitable 
way of teaching it to the masses, after which we went 
out into other homes where they were waiting and 
watching for us, eager to hear reading from the '* Chris- 
tian's Book," as they have named our Bible. 

In one home we found great distress. The husband 
and father lay breathing out his life under that dread- 
ful scourge, consumption. He was in great distress of 
mind, and could get no relief from his idols. We tried 
to direct him to the only true source of joy and peace^ 
but the siren of false worship had so entangled him 
that he did not seem to care to break her soul-destroy- 
ing spell. We left his presence, feeling the force of the 
words in the Holy Writ, '' He is joined to his idols. 
Let him alone." 

As we entered the highway, our native helper and 
her husband met us, and they proposed that we take a 
stroll out to the bitter springs, over which was built a 
strong iron bridge. As this was the direct road for 
travelers across the great central Deccan, our friends 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 123 

thought it might be interesting to us to rest a little on 
the bridge and study the people and their doings. 
There were many passers-by. We wish we could have 
photographed some of the groups. There were coolies 
carrying the picturesque loads on their heads, such as 
the rough, red pottery in the oddest forms, and, again, 
in the prettiest patterns that could be imagined. 
Others would have bunches of cocoa-nuts tied to- 
gether by the fiber, and still others, a tray, heaped full 
of little images. Soon there came a group of travel- 
ers. An old, tottering woman, enveloped, all but one 
eye, in a red cloth or '' sarri," carefully led by a little 
girl ; another woman carrying a crying infant at her 
side ; a man with a few brass drinking vessels hanging 
from a cloth over his back, and a betel-nut box, a roll 
of matting, probably his bedding, on his head, and a 
small boy hanging to his disengaged hand. They 
looked way-worn and tired, and went in single file. 
What was our surprise to see them hastily step aside, 
draw up in line close against the bridge, and bow in 
lowly obeisance, as a half-clad, fat, oily man, with a 
brick-dust hue of skin, a top-knot on his otherwise 
shaven head instead of the turban, and a palm-leaf um- 
brella in his hand, sauntered slowly by. We were in- 
formed that this man was a Bramin and the Hindoo 
law required these poor people to give him the road. 
Long after the sun went down we sat there, think- 



124 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

ing of man's injustice to his fellows. It did not grow 
dark. The evening star rode high, like a great orb 
sending a broad gleam of light across the little lake. 
Sirius, with his beautiful light, hung in wondrous bril- 
liancy above us, and soon the full moon rose, like a 
ball of gold, and sent a flood of softened radiance over 
the exquisite scene. At length the sound of jackals 
prowling over the land was borne in upon the ear. 
Then we rose and hurried home, carrying many a pic- 
ture and memory in our hearts which will not be easily 
erased. 

When a child, we had heard a friend of our family 
speak of her travels in the East, and how timid she was 
with the monkeys. We thought her very cowardly, 
and said, '' We would not be afraid of monkeys," but 
the time came when we were filled with fear because 
of them. It happened on this wise : A friend who 
was a physician called at the Mission and suggested a 
change for us. As we were thoroughly tired out with 
work and heat, she advised us to go to the mountains 
for a few days at least, and, as all our dear friends at 
the house thought with her, we decided to go on the 
following morning. Accordingly, we sent the servants 
on errands here and there, for we must needs have 
men to carry us and others to carry our beds and food 
and clothing, as there were no markets at the village 



i 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 125 

on this mountain, and we must carry our stores with 
us. Three others from the Mission decided to go. 

It was a ride of five hours. We were taken in a car- 
riage from the Mission to the foot of the mountain, 
starting in the early dawn, between three and four. 
The poor natives, for whom we were laboring, learned 
through some of the servants, the night before, that 
*' Miss Sahib America " was ill and was going up the 
mountain in the morning, so that, early as it was 
when we started, we noted a large number of dusky 
forms gliding about the carriage as we emerged from 
the door of the Mission-house, and our ear caught the 
low murmur of voices as they inquired in subdued 
tones of the servants if we were very ill, and if M^e 
would return soon, and who would come and teach 
them while we were absent. 

We could not help allowing a stray smile of triumph 
to flit over our face as we thought how the dear Lord 
had given into our hands the hearts of this people, but 
with that thought came that of the great and sacred 
trust and the account which we must give to Him of 
our doings, when we are called forth to render up our 
stewardship. The cry of our soul was, '' Lord, teach us 
that we may be able to teach those to whom Thou 
hast sent us." These and other thoughts rushed over 
the soul as we descended the steps to the carriage in 



126 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

the fog of that spring morning, leaning on the arm of 
our interpreter. 

By the time we reached the mountain-pass where we 
were to leave the carriage, the morning had fully- 
dawned, and the mist had, in a measure, rolled away. 
We were in the midst of a beautiful mango p-rove. At 
the further side stood a Hindoo temple, and the wor- 
shipers were passing along in single file. Some were 
travelers, we knew by the burdens they bore, also 
their dusty and worn appearance. Others were shop- 
men, come to pay their vows to their god while on 
their way to their shops, perhaps with some gift to the 
god to insure its favor, in order that they might have 
large sales during the day. 

The heathen religion seems to be one of selfishness. 
They are always asking for some personal favor. A 
short time ago, word came to us that a father had 
yielded up his son, — a lad of fifteen summers, — to be 
sacrificed to the God of Famine, in order that her 
wrath might be appeased. They had intended two 
victims, but the other boy learned their purpose and 
hid himself. 

We heard a rustling in the trees over our heads, and, 
looking up, saw that the grove was rather thickly pop- 
ulated with the sacred monkeys, who showed their 
dislike to us by throwing twigs down at us. Soon our 
men came with uncovered palanquins, on which we 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 127 

were to be carried up the mountain. As we looked at 
them, we thought that we would prefer to walk, but 
the jolly fellows laughingly bade us take our places, 
which we did, but not without protest. 

Soon all was ready, and our carriage was raised to 
the shoulders of the faithful coolies, and the ascent 
began. Our men were to go ahead of the others. 
Then, if anything occurred, our friends would soon 
come up with us. As we did not understand the lan- 
guage of these mountaineers, and with no interpreter, 
we hardly knew how we were to get along. When we 
had gone some two miles, we looked back and saw the 
other members of our party far below us, wending 
their way along. We being a light-weight, our men 
could hasten with us without weariness. At this point 
we wanted to have the carriage lowered to the ground, 
and to wait till the others came up, whereupon a 
rather amusing incident occurred. 

As before remarked, we did not understand the 
men's language, but we ventured to tell them to stop, 
and used the word " gelda," when they at once started 
on a trot. We repeated the word with much earnest- 
ness. Then they increased their speed, till the poor 
fellows were actually running up the hill, and we, as 
may be imagined, were nearly wild with fear. At 
length we bethought ourselves, and concluded we had 
used the wrong word, so, getting the attention of one 



128 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

of the men, we, by signs, gave him to understand that 
we wanted to rest. 

When he informed the others they lowered us, and 
laughed heartily as they threw themselves on the 
ground a few feet from our carriage. One of them 
made lis understand that, instead of using the word 
" gelda," which means ''hurry," we should have said, 
" tiro," which means " wait." We made them promise 
they would not tell our friends, for we knew that, should 
they get hold of it, we would not hear the last of the 
joke for some time. 

Of course, when our friends came up, they asked 
why we had been in such haste. We answered that we 
were in haste to study the language of the hill people. 
Our coolies laughed, but did not give us away. 
About noon we reached the top of the mountain, 
and the first view we caught of the plains below well 
repaid us for any inconvenience we had experienced in 
getting up. 

Soon after reaching the place, we found that there 
was a cantonment of British soldiers near the rest- 
house. Many had their families with them. About 
noon a delegation from the officers in charge called to 
invite us to hold a religious service on the following 
evening, which was the Sabbath. We promised to 
consider the matter, and let them know our decision. 
We saw not a few objections in our way. We knew 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 129 

there were ladies in the building who were prejudiced 
against having a woman take charge of, and carry on, 
a religious service. Indeed, they had said that they 
felt a woman was ** out of her sphere," when she 
attempted any such thing. That stood like a wall 
before us. 

Then, too, we were very much worn, and needed the 
rest which this place afforded ; but as we prayed, and 
tried to be excused on these grounds, that company 
of hungry souls who, they told us, had not had the 
opportunity of attending a religious service for nearly 
three months, would come up before the mind's eye, 
— and many of them were fai away from their dear 
ones. 

The thought at last forced itself upon us, '* What if 
these should suddenly be called into action, and some 
of their number be obliged to yield up their lives, and 
go unprepared into the presence of our King, because 
we had failed to do our duty, what excuse would we 
render Him for neglected opportunities?" And as this 
came sweeping over the soul, we forgot about the crit- 
icisms of our fellows, — we even forgot about our own 
weariness, and bade the men make ready the room for 
us, and we would do the best we could. The service 
was to be held in the gymnasium building. There 
being no floor in the building, they swept the ground 



130 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

and laid mats about the place where the table stood to 
serve as a desk. 

For a basis to our remarks we took a part of the 
third chapter of St. John's gospel, and a part of the 
one hundred and thirty-ninth Psalm. The women 
who had so stoutly denounced our taking the service 
were present, and we called on them to take charge of 
the singing. The blessed Holy Spirit seemed to fill 
all the place, and the singers wept as they led those 
fine, manly voices in the congregation. Many of the 
men were scarcely out of their teens, and we knew not 
how soon they might be called to face the cannon's 
mouth. We plead with and for them as one who 
must give an account to God, and He honored our 
earnestness in the conversion of three young Scotch 
soldiers. Soon after this they were baptized by the 
missionary from the plains. 

On the following day they came with the request 
that we hold a temperance meeting in the evening. 
We did not dare refuse, but we felt we ought to care 
for our own strength. Accordingly, we asked for time 
to pray over it, in the meantime sending a runner down 
to the mission station asking for a speaker, and telling 
the need and the wish of the men. They returned 
word for us to go on with the preparations for the 
evening, and a helper would come up to us. We 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 131 

accordingly went forward, asking God for wisdom for 
each step. 

About fifteen minutes before the time appointed for 
the meeting, our missionary from the plains arrived, 
and with him the young man who usually led the sing- 
ing. We were delighted when we saw them, thinking 
that we would be excused, but the missionary insisted 
on our delivering the address, but said that he would 
make a few brief remarks by way of opening the ser- 
vice. After the address they held a song service, at 
the close of which they asked for the pledge and the 
blue ribbon, both of which the missionary had brought 
with him. We had the pleasure of tying the blue 
ribbon on fifty of these soldiers. 

When we were ready to leave the hall we looked at 
our watch and found it was eleven o'clock. Just as we 
were going out of the door the missionary came near 
and said that he would like us to go down to the Mis- 
sion that night, as he must go another way, and our 
presence was needed there in the early morning, — that 
it would not take us as long to go down as it did to 
come up, and he had brought servants to assist us. 

Accordingly, we went to the house and speedily 
arranged for our midnight trip. There were two women 
and a man to accompany us. After getting away from 
the lights of the cantonment we found that we had but 
one lantern, and the night was fearfully dark. There- 



132 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

fore we positively refused to be carried, as we deemed 
it more safe to walk. 

The path wound around the mountain. On one side 
was a dizzy depth, and on the other the frowning rocks 
towered far above us. When about half-way down we 
heard a peculiar " halloo," answered by many voices. 
We were troubled and turned to one of the servants to 
know what it all meant. He said it was monkeys on 
the rocky heights above us, and we had better hurry on 
or they would hurl stones down, which might "strike us. 
He had scarcely finished speaking before we heard 
something strike in the path and bound far below in 
the ravine. Then it was that we were filled with fear 
because of monkeys, but God protected us, and we 
reached the plains in safety. 

Surely the " dark places of the earth are full of the 
habitations of cruelty." The " lords of creation," es- 
pecially in India, are fearful tyrants, as the following 
will serve to illustrate : 

One morning a friend with whom we had been at 
work drove into the compound, wishing us to go with 
her to the bazaar to visit a poor woman who lay dying. 
Her husband came home the night before from a relig- 
ious festival, and asked her to go over to the other side 
of the city and get five rupees which a man was owing 
him, but the poor woman was too ill to go, as she had 
a young babe only three days old. The distance was 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 133 

two miles. Because she could not he gave her a severe 
beating, then went out for a while. When he came in 
he demanded of her whether or not she was going. 
She still protested that she could not. However, she 
attempted it, and fainted just outside the door of their 
miserable home, whereupon he rushed out and thrust 
her through twice with his sword and left her there to 
die. She recovered consciousness and dragged herself 
to the door of a poor Eurasian woman, who made the 
case known to the police. The man, when he learned 
that he was to be brought to account, took his own 
life. We found the woman just passing into the 
Great Unknown. 

At this time there was a young man, the only son of 
a wealthy native prince, from the northwestern part of 
India, at the Mission. As he had just become a Chris- 
tian we thought a little stay here would strengthen him 
in his rehgious life. As we were talking over the sad 
incident with him, he related the following : 

A wealthy native invited a large company of his 
friends, one afternoon, to his home to discuss some 
questions relating to their religion. His favorite wife 
was out in their summer bathing-house and did not 
know of the arrival of the guests, and so did not take 
the precaution to cover her face as she glided up the 
sheltered walk which led to the ladies' apartments. 
One of the gentlemen, contrary to custom, was strol- 



134 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

ling in that part of the garden and came up near the 
walk just as the woman passed by, thus looking on the 
unrivaled beauty of her face. The woman uttered a 
scream and fell fainting at his feet, for never before, 
since her childhood, had any man except her husband 
seen her face unveiled. She was reputed to be the 
most beautiful woman in India at that time. The man 
did not report the occurrence to his host, but called 
one of the women servants and told her something 
was wrong in the woman's pavilion, but before the ser- 
vant reached her, consciousness had returned, and she 
arose and staggered to her room, sending for her hus- 
band, who went to her. She told him, however, that 
he was not to look on her face till she had made a 
confession to him. She then told him what our read- 
ers already know. He seemed perplexed at first, and 
then said that, as far as he was concerned, he would 
forgive it. '' But," said he, '' we must remember Hindoo 
law. I will call a council and whatever they advise I 
must do." She begged him to let her go away, and 
she would never return to disgrace him. He refused 
her this boon, and called his friends together. 

After a long, hot discussion, for the man who had 
caused this trouble was there, together with some of 
his personal friends, and they were all in favor of 
allowing the woman pardon, and even went so far as 
to offer a large sum of money for her ransom. He 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. I35 

also promised to take her to his own home, but it was 
all of no avail. Superstition and caste ruled, and the 
decree went forth that she must die. That night the 
''Lig-ht of the Harem," as the woman was called, went 
out in the midst of darkness and was never seen again. 

The women are in perfect bondage. If their hus- 
bands go off on a journey, they must not see dancing, 
or hear music, or dress in their jewels, nor eat any 
pleasant food, nor even look at themselves in their 
mirrors, but must just sit and think of the absent ones, 
until they are caught sight of in the distance through 
the latticed screens on the house-tops, when they must 
hasten and dress and have the meal ready by the time 
the husband reaches his home. But, instead of sitting 
down and sharing the meal, the wife must stand be- 
hind her lord, swinging the fan while he eats, after 
which she can take what he has left and share it with 
her daughter, if she has a daughter. If not, she must 
eat her meal alone. If she wishes to be absolved from 
some sin, she washes his feet and drinks the water. 

These men buy poor women of their own caste, pre- 
tending they are for wives, when, in reality, they are 
his slaves. They will go to some large grain dealer 
and take a contract to grind a large quantity of grain 
into flour. These women are then taken into the 
store-house and set to work grinding at the mills, 
which are made of two heavy, round stones, with 



136 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

grooves in them. They are called the upper and the 
nether mill-stones. In the upper one is an iron rod 
stuck in for a handle. Two women take each a hand 
on this and turn, which process crushes the grain and 
reduces it to flour. This picture brings before us more 
vividly the words of our Lord, when He said, ''There 
shall be two women grinding at the mill. The one 
shall be taken and the other left." Many times we 
have gone into these store-houses, and found as many 
as twenty women at work at the mills and a man sit- 
ting near with a long rod in his hand, so that he could 
beat them, should they, at any time, stop one of the 
mills. He, of course, would be a bad man, the most 
heartless that could be secured. 

Then, too, these women are compelled to bring all 
the hay, and wood, and water which is used in the 
household. This means, in many instances, a long 
walk into the country and a hard day's work ; then a 
return at night with a heavy load, after which they 
must prepare their evening meal. Many times, in our 
evening work, we would meet these dear women bear- 
ing on their heads their heavy burdens of w^ood or 
grass, as the case might be. We would feel like getting 
down from our carriage and sharing their burdens, but 
this we could not do, and as we would watch them 
bending under their burden, we would murmur the 
words of one of old, " The tender mercies of the 



STRA y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 137 

wicked are cruel.'' Many times in the dry season they 
would be obliged to go nearly two miles for water in 
the terrible heat of the tropical sun. This must be 
repeated a number of times during the day, for their 
lord and master must have his cool bath three times 
each day. But when do the women get their baths? 
Ask Him who has said, ''The hairs of your head are all 
numbered," and who loves these dear Hindoo women 
as He loves you and me. 

The Hindoo is very devout, as a little incident which 
came under our notice will, in part, illustrate. There 
were two young ladies who drove to the Mission twice 
a week for music lessons, the daughters of the native 
minister, who officiated in the Church of England. 
Quite often, when their lessons were ended, they would 
take us out for a drive in the cool of the evening 
through the public garden. Their coachman was a 
very careful, faithful servant, who had been in the 
employ of the family since the girls were mere babies, 
and he was as careful of them as their father would be. 
We enjoyed these drives very much, as the dear girls 
would enliven the way by pointing out some familiar 
object, and give us the native name for it, and then 
give a short discourse an it in the native tongue, thus 
teaching us not only the language, but the pronuncia- 
tion as well, which is very essential. 

One evening, while out, they asked if we would like 



138 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

to visit a copper mine, a short distance from the city, 
where they had tunneled into the side of the mountain 
well-nigh two miles, and from this tunnel pits are dug- 
from fifty to eighty feet in depth, from whence the ore 
is taken. We were delighted with the proposal and 
began at once to plan for the visit. We decided to go 
the following day, as it was Saturday, and we would 
have more leisure on this day than on any other in the 
week. When we reached home, we found our college 
boys waiting about the place, and they, of course, 
heard us making the final arrangements. 

Next morning, some little time before our friends 
arrived, we noted the appearance of the leader in the 
class, a tall and dignified Hindoo lad of sixteen years. 
He went into the room of the missionary in charge 
and presently appeared at our door and asked if he 
would be granted the pleasure of accompanying us to 
the mine. We afterward learned that he went, accord- 
ing to the Hindoo custom, to ask permission of the 
missionary to accompany us, and he, true to his Amer- 
ican rules of etiquette, told the young man that he 
must get permission of the lady, which permission we 
gladly gave, for we saw by this that already the seed 
we had sown was taking root in the fertile heart of 
this young man and bringing forth its fruit in his life. 

In all our teaching, we had striven to make them un- 
derstand the relation of man to woman, as her protector 



STRAY BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 139 

and care-taker. He said the mine was a dangerous 
place, and he thought we ought not to go without 
some one to look after things. Soon the carriage with 
our friends arrived, and, after tucking our rubber coat 
and shoes, together with a woolen cap, into a corner 
under the seat, we were off for the mines. When we 
spoke of procuring torches as we went through the 
bazaar, the young man made answer that he had ar- 
ranged for those things, thus giving us to understand 
that we were not to be troubled about anything. 

We found the tunnel about eight feet high by ten 
wide. It was well we had provided ourselves with our 
rubber covering, for, when once inside, the drops of 
water came pattering down all about us. When we 
were about to enter, the young man said, ** Miss Sahib, 
don't you pray to your God before you go in ? I do 
to mine, because some evil might come to me while I 
was away in there, and I could not get help." We 
asked him if his god could not hear him if he prayed 
while in there. A surprised look passed over his hand- 
some face as he answered, ** Why, no. I have no god 
in there; have you?" We made answer that the 
Christian's God was the maker of all things, and filled 
all space, was present everywhere, ready to help all 
who fully trust in Him. 

In looking down into the pits, where the miners 
were at work, the large torch appeared like the small- 



I40 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

est point of light. In going a mile into the mountain we 
passed fifteen of these pits. At this point the young 
man said the air was getting rather stifling, and we 
would better not try to go any further. In retracing 
our steps, our foot slipped in the loose stones when 
about half-way out, and not being able to find anything 
to stay us, we fell heavily forward. As we were near 
one of the pits at the time of our fall, the company all 
feared at first that we had gone down, but we came 
out with nothing more serious than a bruised hand, 
which struck against a sharp, jagged rock as we fell. 

From the mine we went to a Mohammedan mosque, 
of which the young men had often told us. We found 
it to be full of architectural beauty. When we reached 
the arched gateway which led into the outer court of 
the temple, we were told that we must loose our shoes 
from off our feet, for the place whereon we were 
standing was holy in the eyes of every devout Mo- 
hammedan. 

The building has no walls, but is simply a court 
within a court, supported by immense marble pillars, 
the heig-ht of the roof of each successive court becom- 
ing greater as we proceed. The center one we were 
not allowed to enter, but could look through the won- 
drous marble screen. The interior was lighted with 
pendant lamps, and in the center, reposing on a beau- 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 141 

tiful block of marble, was the tomb of Mahomet, the 
great prophet. 

Near the temple, in the same yard, is a fine dwelling- 
house for the attendants and priests,— also the dance 
girls belonging to the temple. We went into this 
building, and up through the circuitous stairway out 
on the roof, which is divided in the center by a screen. 
One-half is for the men, the other for the women. 
This overlooks a miniature lake, with cascades and 
sparkling fountains,— all artificial, of course,— but the 
rocks are so arranged that the water tumbles and foams 
over them into a deep ravine, out of sight, and a few 
rods away suddenly appears, looking as peaceful and 
refreshing as though it had never been disturbed. From 
here it loses itself in the lake. 

The banks are always green and strewn with roses, 
as the spray from the fountain keeps the soil moist. 
The water, which so enlivens this place, is brought in 
pipes from Anasagar Lake, a distance of, perhaps, a 
mile. If all the money now used to decorate and 
make attractive the '' place of the gods," could be de- 
voted to the interests of India's oppressed ones, how 
much better it would be, — not only for the persons 
themselves, but for the country and nation. 

As we stood gazing on the wondrous picture spread 
out before us in this temple garden, our mind turned 
to another picture, of which our readers will find a 



142 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

description in the last chapter of the Revelation : *' And 
there was a pure stream of water, clear as crystal, pro- 
ceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb .... 
and in the midst of the garden was the tree of life, 
whose leaves weie for the healing of the nations^ 
We are so glad that that word is put in the plural. 
We were glad that spring morning, as we sat on the 
house-top, and were reminded of it by the scene all 
about us ; glad that it was our blessed privilege to offer 
this life eternal to India as hers, belonging to her, 
through the right of testimony from Him who had 
purchased it by the shedding of His own precious 
blood ; not only to England and America, — *' chosen 
nations?" — no, no! but the Will simply reads, "for 
the healing of the nations,'' — therefore we offer it to 
all the world, — the right to enter in and take of this 
"Tree of Life" — Christ Jesus — and live. 

From the temple we went to one of the great man- 
ufacturing houses, where those wonderful native shawls 
which Europeans admire so much are finished up. 
They are hand-painted or stamped. We stood for 
some moments watching the painter, as he worked over 
a very pretty design, which he had nearly finished, and 
as we lingered, a Eurasian woman of great wealth 
came in to make some purchase, and overheard our 
remarks about the shawl, but no words passed between 
us in regard to it. However, in about two weeks a 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 143 

parcel was handed us, which, on being opened, proved 
to be the shawl we had admired so much, accompanied 
by a dainty little note from the woman referred to, 
asking us to accept the shawl as a slight token of her 
friendly feeling toward us, and the great work to which 
we had put our hand. 

From the bazaar we went to the park, as the young 
man wished to show us the fernery. We found this a 
truly wonderful place. The building is all lattice-work 
— fifty by one hundred feet and twenty feet high — over- 
run with vines whose delicate tendrils creep through 
all about us. In either corner was a fountain, sending 
up its sparkling crystal waters, which kept these beau- 
tiful vines green and flourishing. There were two 
marble walks running through the center, with three 
crosswalks. 

The plots thus divided off are filled with rare plants 
and shrubs from all lands, carefully tended and kept. 
Nearest to the outside were the aquatic plants, with 
their wet leaves glistening in the rays of the sun, as 
they steal in through the vine-covered lattice. We 
questioned the young man in regard to these beauties 
and their origin, but he, true to his religion, said he 
would ask his god when he reached his home, and 
would let us know. As the sun was riding high in the 
heavens and the heat was getting great, we hastened 



144 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

to the carriage and drove home, feeling well repaid for 
the time thus spent with our pupils. 

The question has been asked, '* How did you reach 
this land of the Ganges?" We could not traverse 
this waste of waters, nine thousand miles in extent, 
in one- day, or one week ; but we did traverse it in five 
weeks, but not by bullock-cart or balloon, but by that 
beautiful, majestic steamship, the Fumesia, of the 
" Anchor Line," as far as Scotland, and from Liverpool 
by the Arabia^ of the same line. We steamed out of 
New York harbor Saturday, near noon. 

There is something solemn, and yet touchingly rich, 
comes over the soul, as the voice of the captain is 
heard shouting the order, '' Haul in the gang-way 
plank, and loose the cable!" Silently and swiftly the 
good ship leaves her moorings, and is soon far away 
from all human life, except those on board. Night 
soon settles over the wide, heaving sea, and we retire 
to our state-room, there to be sung to sleep by the 
waves, as we rest on the bosom of the mighty deep, 
and dream of home and the dear ones we have left 
behind. 

About midnight our dream of peace was suddenly 
broken in upon by the shouting of orders and thump- 
ing of ropes and hurrying of feet ! What did it all 
mean ? Oh, nothing, only a storm of wind had over- 
taken the good ship. It was well for us that it came 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 145 

on after and overtook us, rather than that we had met 
it face to face. The waves were mountains high, and 
the wind a furious gale. We were always timid in a 
storm, but this was something to make the stoutest 
heart tremble. We asked the young lady who shared 
the room with us if she were afraid. She answered in 
the affirmative. 

We left our couch, and rolled, rather than walked, 
across the room to her berth, and knelt down, telling 
the Lord how fear had taken possession of us. As we 
prayed, a new confidence seemed born within us, and 
the voice of the Holy Spirit spoke these words to our 
soul : "■ I ride upon the wings of the wind, and under- 
neath thee are My everlasting arms." In that moment 
all fear was taken away, and we have never since feared 
in any storm. 

In the morning there were but few at table, for the 
storm continued in all its fury. After breakfast we threw 
our heavy Russian cloak about us, and went up to the 
hurricane deck to get a breath of fresh air. We were 
somewhat used to the sea, as we had taken several voy- 
ages. Our stomach was never disturbed by the motion 
of the ship, but our head was always ill, so that, at 
times, the mind would not be able to see things clearly, 
but would be filled wifh strange fancies which, to us, 
seemed real. Before our long sea voyage was over, an 
evil-minded woman took advantage of our condition, 



146 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

and set afloat strange reports, which afterward were as 
thorns in the flesh. But He who called us to this far- 
away land, took great care that these poison-tipped 
arrows should not hinder us from accomplishing the 
mission for which He had prepared us. 

The fourth day out from New York, the storm had 
abated so that the passengers could leave their' state- 
rooms. We went out to breakfast, and soon the young 
lady who shared our room came in. About four min- 
utes after, the room steward rushed in and said that 
everything on the floor of our room was afloat ; the 
young lady had left the ''port-hole," or (as landsmen 
would say) window open, and the waves dashed in." 

We hurriedly repaired to the scene of disaster, and 
such a sight as greeted our eyes can better be imag- 
ined than described. Our evening wardrobe, together 
with a small open case of surgical instruments, and a 
case of medicines (for our friend was a physician), and 
numerous other articles, were floating about, with our 
little cabin trunks. The stewardess was trying to fish 
them out, while the chore-boy was dipping water with 
all his might, singing out, to console us, "Never mind, 
Missus, the things will dry after a while." We tossed 
a half-sovereign to the stewardess, and told her to look 
after the things, and we heard nothing more of the 
affair. The following day the things were returned in 
^ood order. So much for a little gold. 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 147 

Nothing of particular interest occurred till the morn- 
ing of our National thanksgiving arrived, when we 
saw something unusual was going on. The sea was 
still heavy, so we must needs look well to the ways of 
our feet, else we might suffer a fall, and the getting up 
again would not be an easy feat to accomplish. The 
drawing-room on the upper deck was selected for the 
occasion. Here tiny flags, both American and British, 
were floating from the walls, while larger ones were 
draped in graceful folds above our heads. 

There was a very fine piano standing at one end of the 
room, and, at short distances, were couches, elegantly 
upholstered. Suspended from the ceiling in the mid- 
dle of the room, were rare, beautiful plants, some in 
blossom, which shed exquisite perfume on the air. 
After dinner, which was served at six o'clock, the bell 
was rung for the people to gather for the exercises. 
The captain was chairman, and recited a selection from 
'' The Light of Asia." A number of other selections 
were rendered by the passengers. The opening music 
was, '' God Save the Queen." The exercises closed by 
singing ''The Star-Spangled Banner." 

The following Sunday evening a minister of our 
party was asked to hold a religious service for the 
steerage passengers in their quarters. When the hour 
arrived a number of us started out. We went up and 
down tiny flights of steps, through dark passageways. 



148 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

black as darkness could make them, lighted only by 
mere tapers, as it were, fastened against the wall. 
We passed through the engine-rooms and saw those 
great, ponderous pistons at their never-tiring work, and 
finally found the place of our search — the steerage 
saloon. Most of the women were too sick to sit up, 
but lay in their bunks with the doors open, so they 
could hear and see. 

The minister read the Twenty-third Psalm and sixth 
chapter of St. John's Gospel. For the opening hymn 
we sang " When I Survey the Wondrous Cross." There 
was a professional singer with us, and as her rich voice 
rose and fell we seemed to forget our surroundings, and 
fancy we heard the voices of angels. Some wept 
silently as we sang. Eternity alone will reveal the 
fruits of that evening's sowing. When the service 
closed we went up on deck to find our way back to our 
quarters, preferring the wind and storm outside to the 
darkness and the circuitous route inside. 

The next day about noon we heard the glad cry of 
'' Land ahead ! " and hastened on deck to see what ap- 
peared to be a small leaden-colored cloud far ahead to 
the left. Some one standing near us said, '' Oh, what a 
fib! 'tis nothing but a cloud." The captain, overhear- 
ing the remark, said, '' You are wrong, sir. That is the 
headland of Bonnie Scotland." Soon we were gliding 
up the Firth of Clyde, as we were to land at Glasgow. 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 149 

When the dinner-bell sounded at six in the evening 
there were seen here and there what seemed to be 
tiny taper lights, but in reality they were large harbor 
lights. 

Soon after dinner we went on deck, and the scene 
that greeted us was wondrous in its beauty. The hill 
on which the city of Glasgow is built slopes down 
toward the River Clyde, and as far as the eye could see 
were innumerable lights. The night being very dark, 
with something of a fog, these glittering, glimmering, 
ever-changing lights from the dwellings in this great 
city were all that was visible, yet we knew there was 
our haven of rest for a little season, after our ride of 
three thousand miles on a wild, stormy sea. 

Need our readers wonder that glad songs of praise 
filled our hearts as our good ship glided into port, and 
the faithful little boat was ready to receive and land us 
at the wharf, and a carriage in waiting took us to that 
magnificent hotel, the St. Enoch's. Should our read- 
ers ever visit Glasgow we advise them to put up at this 
house. It is claimed to be, at present, the finest build- 
ing of its kind in Great Britain. It is three hundred 
and sixty feet in length, and one hundred and twenty 
in height. 

At the entrance of this hotel is a spacious open porch, 
having its arches supported by columns of beautifully- 
polished granite. We were told that this house affords 



I50 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

ample accommodation for three hundred guests at once. 
Here we spent the night, and, after a fairly early break- 
fast, went out with a party of four to explore the won- 
ders of this " city on a hill," with a population of six 
hundred thousand souls. It boasts of the finest paved 
streets in the world. 

One of the historic treasures of Glasgow is St. 
Mongoe's Cathedral, built some time in the '' Middle 
Ages." The bell bears the date of 1594. The build- 
ing is three hundred and nineteen feet in length, 
and sixty-three in width. The windows are of stained 
glass, with beautiful scriptural designs. The one we 
admired most was the driving of Adam and Eve from 
Paradise. The soft light fell on it from above, making 
the picture one of rare loveliness. 

We next went to St. George's Square, where we 
found a beautiful monument to Sir Walter Scott, one 
hundred feet in height. Near it was one to the mem- 
ory of Sir John Moore. Our readers may recall the 
poem written on his burial, commencing, " Not a drum 
was heard, not a funeral note." We remember it very 
well, as it was the first poem of any length which we 
committed to memory. 

At the right of this monument was a bronze figure 
of James Watt, and various other figures, which for 
us had no particular interest, ornamented the place. 
As we had but two hours to spend in the city by day- 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT, 151 

light, we could not visit many of its wonders, but has- 
tened to the station and took the train for Edinburgh. 
The ride, in itself, was not a very enjoyable one, 
although the route, being new, was full of interest and 
profit for us. 

The car was cold and crowded, so that we were 
decidedly uncomfortable. We had no heat except 
what came from two flat tin cans filled with hot water 
and placed on the bare, cold floor under our feet. 
When two of us had shared the warmth of one of these 
for a short time, we would shove it along for our neigh- 
bor's comfort, and they, in turn, would pass it to the 
next. 

As we journeyed northward the cold was intensified. 
It is only a ride of perhaps two or three hours from 
Glasgow to Edinburgh. Here and there we caught 
sight of the historic ''Copsewood Gray" as our train 
wound around the base of the highlands or hills, and 
as some bold frontage of rock would appear in all its 
abruptness, we seemed to stand by Sir Walter Scott, 
as he so correctly blends nature with art in his beauti- 
ful poem, "The Lady of the Lake." 

After a great deal of grumbling and various shiftings 
about we entered the -historic city of Edinburgh, and 
found it was truly styled a "strong city" — one not 
easy to storm or take. We were driven from the sta- 
tion to the Darling Hotel, on Prince street, where we 



152 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

were made very comfortable, and where everything 
seemed so home-like, although in a foreign land. 
After our rooms had been assigned us we went out 
shopping — at least we women did, and found elegant 
shops and courteous clerks, mostly women and girls. 

When we had finished our shopping it was six o'clock 
and time for dinner, after which we were informed that 
an evangelist was holding services in one of the mission 
halls belonging to the city, and only a short walk from 
our hotel. As our party seemed interested we went, 
our host acting as guide. The meeting, thougli short, 
was one of interest and great profit. The words 
selected for the base of his remarks were, ''Come unto 
me . , . and be ye saved, saith your God." We 
were told that there were meetings held every day in 
this hall for the benefit of the day laborers. 

During our three days' stay in this city we did not 
see an intoxicated person. We reached home just as 
the clock struck nine, and all were summoned by a 
gong to the library for prayers, which were conducted 
by a saintly-looking, white-haired old man, and father 
of our host. He read the chapter in Isaiah, "The 
wilderness and the solitary places shall be glad for 
them," etc. After prayers we had tea served in our 
rooms. Thus ended our first day in a foreign land. 

We ordered an early breakfast, so as to be ready for 
a long day of study and pleasure among the wonders 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 153 

of this modern Athens, which is built on a little cluster 
of hills about a mile and a half south of the Firth of 
Forth. We were told that it owes its name to King 
Edwin of Northumbria, who, some twelve hundred 
years ago, built a fort on the rocky height in what is 
now the center of the city. Hence the name '' Edin- 
burgh." 

The first work of the day was to take a walk up and 
down Prince street from the hotel. The morning was 
perfect — about such a one as we might expect in Feb- 
ruary, at home, although it was now the first of De- 
cember. Some of the finest buildings and monuments 
in the city are facing this street, also the royal gardens. 
The monument to the memory of Sir Walter Scott, 
which stands in this garden or park, is the finest of its 
kind in the city, and is nearly two hundred feet high. 
The base forms an arched canopy, within which is a 
marble statue of Scott with his favorite hound crouch- 
ing at his feet. The dog looks so life-like that one is 
almost tempted to reach out and stroke the beautiful 
creature. 

By the time we had taken in a part of the beauties 
of this street, we were told that the public buildings 
were open and we could enter any we chose by paying 
the required fee. Our first visit was paid to the 
Antiquarian Museum on Prince street. Among other 
things, we found that instrument of torture and death 



154 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

about which we had read so much, the '' guillotine/' 
and the headsman's axe, together with the block, 
stained with human blood. As we looked on these,- 
we thought of the poet's words written on the execu- 
tion of Mary, Queen of Scots, when her favorite dog 
lapped her life-blood, running as follows: 

Lapped by a dog ! Go think of it in silence and alone, 
And weigh against a grain of sand the glories of a throne. 

Here, too, were mummies, said to be the.Pharoahs 
of Egypt, with their rude armor and implements of 
war. Indeed, almost everything of which we read in 
ancient history will be found in this building. From 
here we went to the National Art Gallery, where were 
wonderful works of art by the old masters, executed 
by both the brush and the chisel. When we had fin- 
ished this building we were ready to go home and rest. 

As soon as breakfast was over next morning we 
hurried toward the " Castle," that we might be in time 
to see the Highlanders, in their picturesque costumes, 
go through with the morning drill. They look like 
hardy soldiers, but, reared as they are in their cold 
mountain air, they could hardly stand the heat on the 
plains of India. 

We entered the castle through a gateway over a 
drawbridge. The great, massive iron gate is drawn up 
by means of pulleys, and one feels a chill while passing 
under, caused by the thought, "■ Where would our life 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 155 

be should the chain break and the gate drop?" Above 
this gateway is what is called the Old State Prison, 
where many noble men have given up their lives in 
defense of honor and truth. In this castle James 
Sixth of Scotland and First of England was born. 
Indeed, we stood in the room where this illustrious 
monarch drew his first breath. A stone tablet over 
the arch of the doorway has the initials " H. M." in- 
wrought, together with the date 1566, the, year of 
James' birth. Henry, his father, was a wicked coward, 
but we think Queen Mary, his mother, was a wise, 
strong woman, more sinned against than sinning. 
There was a heavy, old oak chair in the room, and we 
were told it was there at the time of his birth. It cer- 
tainly looked old enough to have been in existence at 
the time of the Deluge. 

We saw many wonderful, as well as beautiful, things 
in this building, among which were the " Crown Jew- 
els," and the portrait of Queen Mary, painted by Sir 
John Gordon. The original, from which this was 
painted, was executed by an Italian when Mary was 
about sixteen years of age. The picture shows her to 
have been a woman of rare beauty. She was once 
overheard to make the remark, "I fear John Knox's 
prayers more than all the armies of England," which 
shows her to have been a woman who feared God but 
not man. 



156 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

From the castle we went to the house where John 
Knox resided when this hapless woman reigned. We 
visited his study and were shown the window through 
which some enemy fired a bullet, intending to kill the 
staunch old reformer, but he had just retired into a 
little side room which was called his prayer closet, 
which we also entered. It is about two by four feet 
and contains a straight, high-backed oaken chair, on 
which, it is said, he always knelt when in there at 
prayer. In his study was an old oak table. We tried 
to lift one corner of it, but even this was too heavy 
for us. As we always prided ourself on the heavy 
weights we were able to raise with one hand, and 
failed to move this with both, our readers can judge 
something of the weight of this table. From this 
building we went to the church where he used to pour 
forth his '' shot and shell " of oratory against the terri- 
ble sins which polluted the Scotch throne at that time. 
It was in this church that he had a stool hurled at his 
head by some woman in the audience when he was 
preaching. We were told that the church is now used 
as the Royal Chapel. We were allowed to sit in the 
chair where England's queen sits when she tarries in 
this place of worship. It was simply an oaken chair, 
covered with crimson velvet. From here we returned 
to the hotel. 

After lunch and a little rest we started for Holyrood 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 157 

Palace, a walk of, perhaps, twenty minutes from the 
hotel. The setting sun was throwing his softened 
light on spire and dome as we reached the Abbey 
which joins the palace. The warder was about to 
close the gate, but the sight of a shining gold-piece 
which we slipped into his hand gave us access. He 
locked the great iron gate and went as our guide over 
the place. We stood for a moment on the place where 
Lord Darnley and Mary stood when they were mar- 
ried. We stooped and picked up a few pebbles from 
under our feet, the only thing movable which they 
would allow travelers to take away with them. One 
of our party reached to pluck an ivy leaf from a plant 
that covered one side of the ruined wall of the Abbey, 
but was sternly ordered to desist before his purpose 
was carried out. 

We next visited Queen Mary's room, where we 
found many things of interest, among which was a 
little oaken stand, on which stood the candlestick and 
snuffers which were used by her, also her iron bedstead 
and the bed on which she slept. This and the stand 
are both inclosed in an iron cage so no person can 
touch them. It was in this room that the unfortunate 
Rizzio was killed. We were shown the stains on the 
floor made by the pools of his blood as he was being 
dragged from the presence of Queen Mary. We were 
told that this room had never been used by anyone 



158 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

since that day, as the Queen took refuge in the Castle 
and remained there till some time after the birth of 
James First of England, when she was imprisoned by 
haughty Elizabeth of England, and, after some years, 
was beheaded by order of this woman. 

We' also visited the room once occupied by King 
Charles the First, of England and Scotland. Here we 
were shown fine tapestry, beautiful portraits painted 
by the old masters, and the mirror which hung in this 
monarch's dressing-room. We were told that he was 
proud of his personal appearance, and would spend a 
great deal of time before this glass. But the shadows 
of evening were coming on and we were obliged to 
hasten through this building, so full of historic interest. 

When we reached our hotel we found dinner wait- 
ing, after which we hurried off to our rooms to write to 
those in the dear home land, and also to jot down 
some facts in our note books, and get our satchels 
ready for an early start, as we were to leave for Lon- 
don next morning on an early train. Thus ended our 
visit to this city which is '' set on a hill," and truly 
it sends light through all the land. 

The ride to London is something like nine hours — in 
miles, three hundred and ninety-five. For the first two 
or three hours we were cold and uncomfortable, but 
after passing the Cheviot Hills we found it warmer and 
more agreeable. We were obliged to touch at Liver- 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 159 

pool to look after a little business, which caused us 
some delay. 

While waiting in the large shipping office of the 
^'Anchor Line" we noticed the arrival of a gambling 
party, consisting of three women and one man. We 
noticed that they were eyeing us very closely, and at 
the same time carrying on a very animated discussion 
in an undertone. After some minutes the eldest of the 
women — we should judge her about thirty-five — came 
forward to where we were sitting, and said, '' Pardon 
my seeming inquisitiveness, but you look so young to 
have such gray hair." ( Our hair was nearly white, 
owing to a severe brain trouble at the age of eighteen.) 
^' And," continued she, '* My brother, yonder, is a physi- 
cian, and would like very much to know if it whitened 
instantly or otherwise. I told him I almost knew it 
changed at once." 

We looked at her a moment, and uttered the word 
^* False," meaning, of course, her theory of the hair 
changing, but she thought we meant that the hair was 
false. It did not take the whole party two minutes to 
get out of the room. A friend who had heard the 
whole conversation told us that the man had wagered 
a large sum of money against the v/oman's diamond 
ring that our white hair was nothing but a wig, and the 
woman took the way she did to find out. Of course, 
we kjiew nothing about it, and had she told us the 



i6o STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

whole truth in the matter she might have earned her 
wager. Perhaps she may see this and get it yet. But 
any one who will put up an article or money on a 
wager ought to lose. 

Long before we reached London, the way was dark 
as night could make it, and our car was literally 
crammed, three persons occupying the space that one 
would monopolize in America, and then think herself 
crowded. By way of resting we would change seats 
with one another. We can assure our readers that we 
were heartily glad when the car door was flung open by 
the conductor, and he roared out "London! All out 
for London," and we did " out " in a hurry, and were 
soon whirling along in an omnibus for the hotel we had 
selected near Charing Cross. Our party ordered din- 
ner at once, but we preferred a bath, and were told 
that it would be ready immediately. In the meantime 
a maid, fresh from the '* Emerald Isle," went out of the 
office and in a short time returned, saying the bath was 
ready. 

We followed her to the bath-room, and she pointed 
to a huge sheet-iron bath-tub lined with porcelain^ 
about four feet deep, standing at one side of the room. 
The tub was full of water within about three inches of 
the top. We asked why she had filled it so full. She 
said, "Ah, Missus, sure, an' I was sayin' me prayers^ 



Sl'RA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. i6i 

an' fergot, an' sure I wud pitch in an' dhrown mesilf 
if I thried to open the bottom, sure." 

We dismissed her, and forthwith plunged to the bot- 
tom of this artificial lake and opened the drain-valve. 
When the water was so we could manage it we went 
on with our bath, but in three or four minutes there 
was a tap on the bath-room door. We asked what was 
wanted, and the maid's voice replied, " Sure, Missus, I 
thought I would come and see if ye had got dhrowned 
in the big tub." We laughed and told her that we 
could swim. We heard her go off, muttering, ''Sure 
an' ye would have to swim to keep up in there ; sure 
an' ye would." 

The public halls and dining-room were elegant, and 
the tables were abundantly supplied in this hotel, but 
the sleeping-rooms were bare and uninviting. The 
doctor and myself shared one room, and she declared, 
in the middle of the night, that she would call the ser- 
vants to build a fire, the room was so cold and damp, 
but she finally gave up the idea. 

After a late breakfast we started out to see London. 
''And could you see London in four days?" you ask. 
Oh, well, yes. We could see three or four large houses 
and one or two smaller ones. That is all the average 
sight-seer takes in, and then he prides himself upon 
having " seen London," forgetting that this city covers 
something like one hundred and twenty-two square 



1 62 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

miles, with a population of four million souls. Of 
these, one-half, as they go in and out of their palatial 
homes, have not the slightest thought how the other 
half exist. 

Before reaching this great city we purposed, if pos- 
sible, to learn something by actual observation as to 
how the day laborers lived. While others of our party 
were gossiping over their coffee and toast in the morn- 
ing, we were off with a friend hunting up facts, and we 
found many, which we have not space here to relate. 
Our friend was familiar with the greater part of the 
city, as she v/as once engaged for some time in mission 
work here. 

One morning we went into a cheap but respectable 
eating-house, where the women and girls who work in 
shops and factories procure their meals. We took a 
position where we could see and hear everything with- 
out being observed, and ordered coffee and bread and 
butter. While we were eating, something like one 
hundred and fifty of these persons came in and or- 
dered a mug of hot tea and a black bread sandwich, 
which would cost them two-pence. The woman who 
had charge of the place told us that these persons took, 
for dinner, a mug of cold water and a black biscuit 
(this black bread and biscuit is made from rye and corn 
flour), and for supper a bowl of oatmeal porridge, sea- 
soned with salt ; and this is their diet, year in and 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 163 

year out. Sometimes, for breakfast, they will take the 
bread without the meat, and thus save a penny. These 
are persons who have no homes, and pay three shil- 
lings a week for a bed, where there are, perhaps, a 
dozen of these sister workers sleeping in the same 
room. They cannot occupy the room till bed-time, 
and on Sundays they must spend their time anywhere 
they can. 

Our readers can readily understand how it is that so 
many of these dear girls are led astray. We were told 
that sometimes a number of these would club together 
and hire a tiny room for a year, just for Sunday use, 
and the owner could have the use of it during the 
week, and thus they could afford to pay the rent. 
Wages are so low that these poor women can scarcely 
earn enough to get their food and clothes. 

It does not take more than thirty minutes to travel 
by carriage from these palatial homes, surrounded by 
everything that pleases the eye and charms the be- 
holder, to scenes of poverty and filth and blasphemous 
sins. As we looked on all of this, we asked, ''Are 
there any who voluntarily leave the first, to minister 
to those of the second, — to go into places of pain and 
terror and sin?" We are glad to say that we learned 
that there are those who daily go on a mission from 
the west end of London to the east, and come back, 



i64 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

leaving behind them good work accomplished, which 
will tell, not only for time, but for eternity. 

Saturday morning, at ten o'clock, we started, with 
others of our party, to see '' The Tower," or London's 
celebrated " fortress," — for such it really is, being com- 
posed of numerous towers and forts and grim but- 
tresses and battered walls, covering an area, we are 
told, of about fifteen acres. We will name some of 
these towers, as they were named to us. The White 
Tower, — so named from its color. If it were named 
from the deeds done within its walls, it might well 
be styled the black tower. Lion's Tower is near this, 
— -so named because of the leopards kept chained 
within. Then there was the Bloody Tower, so named 
from the deed of cruelty committed here by King 
Richard, in causing his little nephews to be murdered 
one night, while they were in the sweet embrace of 
sleep. We saw their resting-place in Westminster 
Abbey. 

There is no important event in English history that 
is not in some way connected with the Tower. We 
felt like treading softly, and with bowed head, as we 
entered these walls, and remembered that earth's 
purest and noblest men and women had been here 
obliged to yield up their lives to the hate and caprice 
of some ruling power. Especially would we mention 
the gifted and beautiful Lady Jane Grey, also her 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 165 

young husband, Lord Guilford. Both of these pure, 
noble persons, were sacrificed to the cruel hatred of 
Spanish Mary. This occurred in 1553. The last per- 
son beheaded on Tower Hill was Lord Lovatt, in 
April, 1747. 

While in the Tower we visited the Armory. We 
saw there a representation of Queen EHzabeth stand- 
ing by her war-horse, clad in her armor as she stood 
to address her assembled troops at Tilbury, in 1588. 
In one part of the room we passed down a broad aisle, 
which was faced on either side by figures of the kings 
and knights of ancient England, dressed in their bur- 
nished armor, both men and horses. Here, too, we 
saw the instruments of torture, the rack, and the 
thumb-screw, and the beheading-block and axe, — also 
the pillory. 

In one part of the building, called Wakefield's 
Tower, is found under a glass case, surrounded by a 
double iron cage, the crown jewelry, or, in other words, 
the Royal Regalia of England. The crown of the 
present ''Queen of the Britons" occupies the highest 
place in the case ; we will not try to describe it, but 
simply say it is wonderful in its beauty and worth, 
containing over two -thousand diamonds, besides a vast 
number of other precious stones. Lower in the case 
are four other crowns, the royal scepter, the coronation 
bracelet, the baptismal font for the royal household, 



i66 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

the wine fountain, the royal garter, the star of India^ 
besides a large number of articles, the names of which 
we failed to catch from the lips of our guide. They 
are all estimated at over five million dollars. 

The shadows of evening were beginning to gather 
over the great city, when we passed silently out by 
Traitor's Gate and over the draw-bridge and past the 
sentry, out into the swaying, hurrying, throbbing heart 
of this great city. We took a cab and hastened to 
our hotel for dinner at six o'clock. 

Sabbath-day we spent in our room, trying to get 
needed rest. Others of our party went to St. Paul's, 
but did not enjoy the sermon. In the evening we all 
started at an early hour for the headquarters of the 
Salvation Army, as we learned that they were to hold 
a grand mass-meeting that evening. Despite the fact 
that we reached the building in very good time, we 
found it crowded, save a few seats near the front. It 
was what we would call a "wigwam," with seating 
capacity for two thousand people, and so arranged that 
the speaker's voice could be distinctly heard in any 
part of the building. Tickets were given us outside, 
and when we reached the door these were handed in 
and a gentleman took us to a vacant seat near the top, 
saying that he was sorry we were obliged to go so far 
up, but there was no other place. We were not sorry, 
for it gave us a better chance to hear and see. The 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 167 

first hymn was ''Throw Out the Life Line," and was 
rendered with so much pathos that many were in tears. 
Following this were several stirring hymns, the reading 
of the last twelve verses of the last chapter of Ephe- 
sians, also the last twelve of the last of the Revelation. 
The reader made us feel that we were standing in the 
presence of the Judge of all the earth. 

Mrs. Booth was present and gave a short address on 
the Scripture '* Behold, I come quickly." Her words 
are filled with the unction of the Holy One. When 
she had finished, the service of song was continued, 
but we were obliged to leave the building, as one of 
our party felt ill from the close air. We took seats on 
the outside of the omnibus, so that we might enjoy 
the beauty of the night. But we little knew what 
scenes we were to pass through before reaching our 
hotel. We had seen a great deal of the effects of evil, 
but that ride showed us darker pictures of sin and 
wretchedness than we had before seen. Many women 
were so intoxicated that they were obliged to lean 
against the buildings to keep from falling, and little 
children — mere babies — overcome with the same dead- 
ening stuff, crouching near to the wall, or tearing at the 
skirts of the drunken women with curse on their infant 
lips. The prayer rose from our heart, '' How long, oh, 
Lord, how long" must our loved ones be crushed, soul 
a.nd body, in the coils of this monster? Sleep was 



i68 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

taken away from our eyes that night because of this 
monster Alcohol, who steals so noiselessly to our win- 
dows and fixes his venomed glance on our noblest and 
best, and we are powerless to beat him back. 

In the morning, after a late breakfast, we started for 
the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, four miles south of 
Greenwich, on the London and Brighton railroad. 
This beautiful glass building, with its parks and gar- 
dens and fountains, its unique courts, its unrivaled 
statuary, music and picture galleries is the greatest 
sight in London and said to be the wonder of all 
Europe, and, indeed, one seems lost in its magnifi- 
cence. The gardens, combined with the fountains, 
are said to be unequaled in the world. Its halls of 
mechanical skill, w^here the visitor finds all sorts of 
machinery turning off its work, from the ponderous 
engines, all burnished steel, down to the tiny turning- 
lathe, is a place of interest and great profit. In this 
hall one can purchase almost anything which a ma- 
chine can turn out, from a thousand-dollar watch, 
down to a five-cent pocket-book, all finished up within 
these glass walls. 

In the hall of statuary we saw the effigies of all the 
queens of Great Britain. The haughty Elizabeth and 
Scottish Mary, resting side by side; also, Bloody Mary 
and the beautiful Lady Jane Grey, resting on one mar- 
ble pillow. As we looked on this we said, '' Could 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 169 

Lady Jane speak, she would not have it otherwise. 
Truly she was beautiful in life, and she is still beautiful 
in death." 

We also noted the figure of St. John, the '' Revela- 
tor." He stands holding a writing tablet in his left 
hand, and in his right a pen. His face is slightly 
turned upward, betokening a listening spirit, as though 
he were holding converse with the ascended Christ, 
and were writing down his words for us. There were 
many figures which filled us with wonder and awe, but 
we have not space to speak of them here. We might, 
however, note one other, that of Hagar in the wilder- 
ness. The unutterable anguish of the mother-heart, 
depicted on the face as she hides her child from her 
gaze that she might not witness what seemed to be his 
dying agony as he turns his parched and swollen lips to 
her in mute appeal for water. Had we not known that 
God performed a miracle and gave water to the faint- 
ing boy, we could not have endured to gaze for a 
moment on that wonderful work of art, so true to life 
had the artist been. We spent seven hours in this 
palace, and caught only a fleeting glimpse of the con- 
tents of each hall. Night was coming silently and 
swiftly over the. earth when we took the train and 
hastened back to our station. We have not attempted 
to describe this palace for the simple reason that our 
pen, we knew, would fail to do it justice. As we 



170 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

before remarked, it is the wonder of the world, and 
full of instruction to all who care to learn. Some 
object to going there, because it contains places of 
objectionable amusement, but these are in separate 
halls, guarded by police, none being allowed to enter 
without tickets. 

The following morning we went to the Dorean Art 
Gallery, which is divided into two halls, on the second 
floor of a large building, erected by the friends of this 
artist after his death, for the special purpose of exhib- 
iting his wonderful paintings. The building comes 
directly to the street, with two broad steps. You 
enter and ascend the stairs which takes you into a 
short, rather narrow passageway, the walls covered 
with unfinished sketches. From here you merge into 
the principal hall. At the right of you is one of the 
most magnificent paintings that was ever executed on 
canvas, ''The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem." The 
grandeur and tenderness and awe one finds in this 
picture are seemingly born of God in the artist's mind. 

A few steps further we enter another room and turn 
to the left. What wondrous beauty meets our gaze, 
" Christ Coming out of the Judgment Hall," wearing 
the purple robe and the crown of thorns. It is life- 
size, and looks so real, with the blood trickling down 
the smooth white forehead, we almost think to reach 
forth, pluck the hated thorns and grind them to pow- 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 171 

der. Back of this noble form sits Pilate, and on either 
side the cruel mob are gathered, showing on their 
faces the arch-fiend, who rules them in this, their 
bloody work. We returned from this room to the prin- 
cipal hall, which, we should judge, was fifty feet square. 
Here we were surrounded by two hundred and thirty 
paintings, illustrating the Holy Scriptures. 

We lingered long in this place, and almost felt that 
we were on holy ground. Dore clothes his work with 
such intense vitality, that the beholder loses sight of 
the ideal and seems to stand in the presence of the 
real. A softened light is shed on the paintings from 
the dome of the building, making a scene of unrivaled 
beauty. 

From here we went to Westminster Abbey. None 
of our party could deny the fact that curiosity, rather 
than devotion, led us to that place. As we stood 
within its venerated walls, and gazed on its architect- 
ural beauties, on the many-tinted stones, with their 
flickering gleams of light and shadow, we could but 
faintly conceive the impressiveness of a coronation ser- 
vice in these halls. We had only an hour to give to 
this building, and all it contained, whereas a year 
would not be tirr^e enough to take them all in. 

Should our readers visit this Abbey we should advise 
them to spend as much study as possible on the tomb 
of Henry VH. It is said that, in his will, he appointed 



172 STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

ten thousand masses to be said for the remission of his 
sins and the weal of his soul. 

The following morning we took the cars and went 
out into the suburbs at the north of London to visit a 
missionary training school carried on by voluntary 
donations. At that time there were from seventy-five 
to one hundred pupils in attendance. The principal, a 
woman, requested that we should remain with them as 
long as we staid in London, and we were very g;rateful 
for her kind courtesy. 

Thursday one of the students, a young Swedish girl, 
went with us to visit St. Paul's Cathedral, which covers 
an area of two thousand two hundred and ninety-two 
feet. The height of the cross from the foundation is 
said to be four hundred and four feet, and its weight 
three thousand three hundred and sixty pounds. The 
moment one enters this building one is struck with its 
lofty vaultings, and the noble concave with which it 
soars upward. The curiosities are the spiral staircase, 
which hangs without any visible support, the model 
room, which contains the original model of St. Paul's, 
and a model of St. Peter's at Rome ; the whispering 
gallery, where, we are told, the slightest whisper at one 
end is heard as plainly at the other as if close to 
the ear. It is one hundred and fifty feet long, and 
the rapping on a door sounds like the discharge of 
artillery. 



STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT, 173 

All of these the visitor can see, and can also mount the 
staircase and take a view from over the lofty gilt balus- 
trade for something like eighteen pence. The dome is 
supported by eight immense pillars, each of which, we 
were told, is forty feet at the base. It would be im- 
possible to describe the architectural beauties which 
surround one in this building. When we entered they 
were holding a religious service in one of the chapels, 
and we were obliged to wait until the close before we 
were allowed to go about, even in another part of the 
church. 

As we stood outside gazing on this wonderful struc- 
ture, there occurred a funny little incident which, 
though rude, had its lesson for us. It was getting 
near night, and we were thinking of soon turning our 
steps toward the school, when up came a little flower- 
girl, with tangled curls and bonnie blue eyes, holding 
out to us a bunch of leaves and flowers, with the words, 
*' Tuppence for the flowers. Miss, only tuppence." At 
first we seemed not to hear her, but she meant we should 
hear her, and, accordingly, planted herself directly in 
our path, still crying out her wares and the price. 

After a little the young lady at our side tried to 
remonstrate with her, but the child said, *' I did not 
ask you to buy the flowers, so leave me alone." We 
then told her we did not care to spend money for flow- 
ers. " Well," said she, '' I sell flowers to get my food, 



174 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

and if you had rather pay money to see this house than 
buy my flowers, I can go without my dinner and my 
supper too, but I will give you the flowers." So say- 
ing, she threw them into our face, with a wicked little 
laugh, and started away. We called her back and paid 
for the flowers. She took the money and, scampering 
ofl", said, in an exultant tone, "I knew you would pay 
for the flowers, 'cause you are American." 

In the evening a number of young ladies took us out 
to attend a cottage prayer-meeting, something like 
a mile from the college, led by an old English ad- 
miral. His silvery hair hung in curls over his shoul- 
ders. He gave us much good advice. News of his 
sudden death reached us at the port of Suez. 

Friday morning was spent in writing letters to the 
dear ones at home, and getting things in order for a 
long sea voyage. The afternoon and evening was given 
to public meetings, as one of the young ladies from the 
college was going out to India with our party. Satur- 
day morning, long before light, we were on our way to 
Liverpool, which place we reached near noon, looked 
after our baggage that had been shipped from Glasgow, 
then hastened to the dining-hall for lunch. After this 
we had a short time to look over the city, which is the 
second greatest shipping port in the world. About all 
we saw was masts and spars and docks, the latter liter- 
ally jammed with produce and carts, and men whipping 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 175 

their horses and turning them this way and that, each 
trying to get in ahead of his neighbor, creating a 
second Babel. 

We were glad when we boarded the good ship 
Arabia, which was to take us to Bombay, and to again 
hear the order, '' Haul in the anchor ! Clear away 
there !" — this last to the faithful little tug-boat that had 
come out with a last message from some dear one, or, 
perhaps, some orders for our sturdy captain. In a few 
minutes the good ship headed off, and we were off on 
our six-thousand-mile trip. We sat and watched the 
headlands of old England till the darkness of night 
hid them from our view, and then turned to the inte- 
rior of the floating house, which was to be our home 
for three weeks, entered our little state-room, seven by 
eight feet, and found that four persons were to occupy 
this tiny bed-room for three long weeks. 

Each of us had a wee, narrow shelf-bed, hung against 
the wall. Behind the door, fastened into the wall, was 
a glass bottle, holding from three to four quarts of 
water. This must answer the whole company in mak- 
ing the morning toilet. There was a nice bath-house, 
where all could be refreshed with a sea-bath every 
morning, but not all of us could endure this before 
breakfast. The captain and officers were all very cour- 
teous and kind, as were also the servants. 

We had been out but eighteen hours, when a terri- 



176 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

ble wind struck us from the southwest. When a 
child, we had heard our elders say (when they had a 
hard thing to do), ''I would rather cross the Bay of 
Biscay than do it," but we can assure our readers that 
we would rather do any hard thing than ever again cross 
this bay in such a sea as greeted us that December 
morning. All we could do was to lie in our berth and 
cling to the little iron rings in the wall, to keep from 
being thrown on the floor. Our room, instead of open- 
ing into the main hall opened into a little side hall. 

Directly across from our door was the door leading 
into the china pantry, where the dishes were kept. 
Further on was the slide door leading out on deck. 
Every wave swept over this deck, and the captain 
had left orders that this door was not to be left open. 
After dinner, which was served in the evening, our door 
being open, we saw the table steward bring two tubs 
of dishes and set them near the door. 

Soon the chief steward rushed in through the side 
door, leaving it open. In less than two minutes a 
large wave, like a thing of life, came rolling in, 
carrying everything before it, dashing the dishes 
against the other side of the main hall, with a crash 
that broke many of them to atoms, and flooding the 
whole place. When the ship turned on her other side 
the next moment, the water, broken dishes, and tubs, 
all went sailing to the other side of the hall, the wave 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. i77 

going out of the still open door, Avhich, at this moment, 
some one hurriedly shut. 

In the middle of the night, we were awakened by a 
cry of distress. We had opened our door for air. The 
sound came nearer. Soon a woman stood in our door, 
wringing her hands, and crying, '' We are lost, we are 
lost! the ship has sprung a leak, and is filling with 
water. I know it is, for I can hear it, and the water is 
floating everything in my room." We bade her be 
quiet, and summoned the room steward, who found 
that the port-hole was defective, and that the water 
had entered her room through that, and the noise she 
heard was the water coming in contact with the hot 
pipes. After a time she became quiet, and went back 
to her room. It was rather laughable to those who 
saw and heard the woman, and yet we hardly cared to 
laugh, for we little knew but our good ship might sink 
in those cruel waves. 

Poets have sung much of the beauties of the sea. 
Should some of them be called to go down into its 
depths, as we were on that memorable voyage, they 
could well sing of its terrors. Our good ship would 
stagger and plunge like some wild beast in chains, and 
again would creak and groan in great distress. This 
lasted for well-nigh five days, when it eased off, and, 
on the eighth day, we stood off the port of Gibraltar. 
In fair weather this passage is made in five days. 



178 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

As we passed along, we noted on our. right the bald 
headlands of Cape Spartel, with its white light-house, 
indicating the northwestern point of the great Dark 
Continent, also the Bay of Trafalgar, celebrated by- 
Nelson's crowning victory. As our steamer was to 
take on coal at Gibraltar, which would take some nine 
hours, we decided to go on shore with others. The 
morning was perfect, and the Bay looked like a sea of 
glass. The city, nestling at the foot of this gigantic 
rock, with its palms and orange trees, and its Oriental 
shrubbery, makes a beautiful picture of peace. It has 
a population of eighteen thousand, besides the soldiery, 
which number five thousand. 

The rock is fourteen hundred feet high. The forti- 
fications are among the most formidable in the world. 
One can enter the rock near its base, and ascend to 
within a short distance of the top, without going out- 
side, by means of a slightly inclined tunnel. Short 
distances apart are port-holes, two by four feet, with a 
cannon pointing out, and near by a store of ammuni- 
tion. Near this were a dozen buckets of water. On 
the top of the rock floats a British flag, over a large 
observatory. 

We were told that below sea level there was a large 
mine of powder laid and so arranged that it could be 
fired from the mainland ; that in case there was danger 
of its falling into the hands of Britain's enemies she 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 179 

could blow it to atoms. One taking a careful look from 
the sea at this gigantic rock, towering in all its seeming 
strength and beauty, would scarcely guess that it 
concealed such a mighty force within. We counted 
thirty pieces of artillery, and presume we did not see 
half, as we only went a short distance. 

Coming down from the rock we went to the Royal 
Hotel for lunch. As a storm of rain was coming on, 
we were obliged to hasten to the ship. The bay had 
become so rough that it was with difficulty that we 
boarded the ship, she tipped about so. We finally 
accomplished it, but not before we were thoroughly 
drenched with the spray of the waves. In a little time 
the ship turned about and made her way through the 
straits into the blue waters of the Mediterranean. As 
we passed through, on our left was the frowning but- 
tress of Gibraltar, while on our right rose the solid 
wall of rock called by seamen the " Stormy Petrel." 
The white waves of the Atlantic are continually dash- 
ing against this wall. We were told that just here the 
waves were never still. 

For three days we sailed in sight of the African 
coast. When we neared Sicily the view was magnifi- 
cent. We sailed, so near that, with the unaided eye, 
we could see a beautiful minaret which a man erected 
in memory of his beautiful bride, who died ere the first 
sweet draught of love was fully quaffed. As we viewed 



i8o STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

it through our field-glass the bright rays of the morn- 
ing sun lit up its polished marble spire until it seemed 
a tapering block of fire. It stood on an extended 
grassy plain at the foot of what seemed to be a moun- 
tain of glistening white sand. 

We' passed a number of small, barren islands. No 
living thing was in sight, not even a bird or a spear of 
grass, nothing but leaden-colored rocks. We passed 
one said to be three thousand feet high. Malta, also, 
is in our course, where is found the world-renowned 
Maltese lace, also fine jewelry made from Madras coral. 
This island is noted for its fine fruit. We were told 
that Malta raises the finest grapes and figs in the 
world. 

In four days from Malta we sighted Port Said, at 
the northern extremity of the Suez Canal. It has a 
population of six thousand, anci is distant from Alexan- 
dria one hundred and forty miles. Steamers, we were 
told, left here twice a week for the Syrian coast — Sat- 
urdays and Mondays, and for Alexandria Fridays and 
Wednesdays. At this place we enter the Suez Canal, 
which is eighty-seven miles in length. We were about 
three days getting through, as we were obliged to tie 
up at night and remain until sunrise. Then, too, we 
were hindered by the dredging boats, and, at another 
place, one of our passengers got permission to go on 
shore, and did not return for some time. As we were 



STRA y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. i8r 

in a desert place we could not leave him there to 
perish, and so awaited his pleasure. 

After proceeding about forty-four miles from Port 
Said we reached a little town called Ismalia, situated 
on the east side of the canal, south of Lake Timsha. 
It is desert on both sides, with the exception of this 
place, from which, being the headquarters of the ad- 
ministration of the canal, there is communication to 
the interior by rail and telegraph. Little Arab boys 
followed the steamer at some distance crying out for 
money. Some of the passengers threw fruit, and oth- 
ers money. In some instances the fruit rolled from 
the bank into the water, and 'the little fellows would 
laugh and dive in after it, chattering all the while to 
their mates, but taking great care not to venture 
beyond a certain distance marked by a white slab set 
up, having on it characters we did not understand. 

We halted at the town of Suez a short time before 
entering the Gulf of Suez, which is one hundred and 
eighty miles long, with a width of eight miles, having 
table-lands on both sides said to be three thousand feet 
high. The Red Sea, of which this gulf is an arm, is 
one thousand miles long, and its greatest breadth is 
one hundred and fifty miles. 

There are many sunken rocks in this sea, and many 
wrecks are strewn along its shores. The temperature 
is very high, especially south of what the sailors term 



1 82 STRA V BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 

the " dead line," and travelers must be very careful 
about exposure to the sun's rays. A part of the way 
we sailed near the shore, so that, with the aid of our 
glass, we could see Moses' Wells, called, in the Bible^ 
Elim, where God bade his servant cast a branch into 
the bitter waters, that they might be made sweet, or 
healed, — beautiful type of Christ, — called in one place 
the '' Branch " who should be broken for the healing of 
His people. 

We saw, also, the range of mountains, of which Mt. 
Sinai forms a part. They raise their whitened peaks 
to the cloudless blue above. They are all something 
truly wonderful to behold. From the blue waters at 
their base, up, up, as far as the eye can penetrate, it 
looks as white as the spotless snow, but, in reality, is 
only sand. 

Our next stop was Aden, at the southern extremity 
of the Red Sea, where our steamer took in coal. Pas- 
sengers were not allowed to go ashore, as there was 
yellow fever in port. But this did not stop the divers 
from coming out in their little boats and pleading for 
money to be thrown into the sea, so that they might 
have it for diving to the bottom and bringing it up in 
their teeth. 

These divers are little Arab boys, from ten to thir- 
teen years of age. Their only clothing is the loin- 
cloth, reaching from the loins half-way down to the 



STRA Y BITS FROM THE ORIENT. 183 

knees, making them look like mammoth frogs when 
down in the water, which is so clear at this place that 
they can be seen at quite a depth. Our stop here was 
brief, and nightfall found us well on the Arabian Sea. 
Here that wonderful blue light that we hear sailors 
speak of followed in the wake of our steamer like a 
beautiful, trailing path of fire. We seemed never to 
tire of watching it, as we would sit at the vessel's side 
in the golden light of the Orient moonbeams, with the 
Southern Cross hanging above us. 

And the flying fishes were another wonder. They 
would come up out of the water, and skim over it like 
a bird. During the night they would get on board the 
steamer, and, not being able to find their way back into 
the sea, would be caught by the sailors and prepared 
for the table. On the seventh day after leaving Aden, 
just at nightfall, we caught sight of the shores of dear 
India. 

We have given our readers a hasty glance of our 
journey, and will now lay aside our pen and close the 
book. 



